GB2582585A

GB2582585A - Adjustable stowing linkage

Info

Publication number: GB2582585A
Application number: GB1904147.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beck Adam
Original assignee: Mobility Networks Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Mobility Networks Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-26
Filing date: 2019-03-26
Publication date: 2020-09-30
Also published as: GB201904147D0

Abstract

A wheelchair lift comprising a lifting assembly 18 movable between lowered and raised deployed positions and a stowed configuration, a support arm 14 pivotably attached to the lifting assembly, a platform 12 pivotally supported on the arm between stowed and deployed configurations and a platform stowing linkage 78 which extends between the support arm 14 and the platform 12 and causes the platform 12 to move to it’s stowed configuration as the lifting assembly moves to it’s stowed configuration wherein the stowing linkage 78 is adjustable to allow the relationship between the platform and lifting assembly to be changed. Movement of the lifting assembly may compress the stowing linkage 78 to exert a force on the platform. There may also be a bridge plate 74 with an adjustable relationship with the configuration of the lifting assembly. Also disclosed as an arrangement wherein the relationship between a handrail 16 stowing and a lift stowing can be adjusted.

Description

ADJUSTABLE STOWING LINKAGE

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to stowable wheelchair lifts for vehicles and adjustable stowing linkages for the same.

Background

Stowable wheelchair lifts provide a moveable platform upon which a wheelchair may be raised and lowered between ground level and a level at which the wheelchair may be wheeled into or out from the vehicle. Such lifts are generally mounted on or inside the vehicle itself and are deployed out from a door in the side or the rear of the vehicle when needed, for example using a hydraulic actuating mechanism.

Such wheelchair lifts generally comprise at least one hydraulically actuated lifting assembly, which raises and lowers the lift between its deployed and stowed configurations. However, stowable wheelchair lifts generally also comprise a number of additional moveable components, such as the platform and handrails, which also undergo a coordinated sequence of movements as the lift is moved between its various configurations. In order to ensure coordinated movement of all of the movable parts of the lift and to avoid the need to include multiple independent actuating means for each of the movable component parts of the lift, stowable wheelchair lifts generally comprise mechanical linkages configured to convert movement of the lifting assemblies into movement of various other component parts of the lift, e.g. the platform and handrails. In this way, the hydraulic actuating mechanism of the lifting assembly not only causes movement of the lifting assembly itself, but also indirectly actuates other component parts of the lift.

However, such linkages must be accurately configured such that the relevant component parts of the lift move in a coordinated manner and in the correct sequence.

For example, actuation of the movable component parts of the lift via the linkages is generally driven by changes in the relative positioning of the component parts of the lift, and factors such as manufacturing tolerances and inaccurate installation of the lift can adversely affect the sequencing of the lift movement during deployment and stowing. This is a particular problem for wheelchair lifts comprising two lifting assemblies (e.g. a left and a right lifting assembly) because actuation of both sides of the lift must be coordinated, and ensuring identical relative positioning of the left and right component parts of the lift, which is required for perfectly coordinated actuation via the linkages, is very difficult.

Furthermore, it is also important for wheelchair lifts to be capable of being housed within vehicles of varying internal dimensions and profiles without having to make substantial configurational changes to the lift or the vehicle.

There is therefore a need for a wheelchair lift that addresses these problems.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the wheelchair lift comprising: an actuated lifting assembly, the actuated lifting assembly being movable between a lowered deployed configuration and a stowed configuration via a raised deployed configuration; a support arm having an upper end and a lower end, the support arm being pivotably supported at its upper end on the lifting assembly; a platform pivotably supported on the lower end of the support arm and movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and a platform stowing linkage extending between the support arm and the platform and arranged to contact the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration so as to actuate the platform stowing linkage, thereby causing the platform to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration; wherein the platform stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the platform to he adjusted.

The platform stowing linkage may be arranged to contact the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed 30 configuration.

The platform stowing linkage may be adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow adjustment of the configuration of the lifting assembly at which the platform stowing linkage first contacts the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration.

The platform stowing linkage may be adjustably connected to the support arm so that the distance between its connection to the support arm and the portion of the lifting assembly it contacts when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration may be adjusted.

The platform stowing linkage may be arranged so that it is compressed between the support arm and the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.

The compression of the platform stowing linkage may cause the platform stowing linkage to exert a downward force on the platform. thereby causing the platform to be raised from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration by pivoting about its connection to the support arm.

The platform may comprise an inboard end and an outboard end. The platform may be pivotably connected to the support arm between its inboard end and its outboard end. The stowing linkage may exert the downward force on the inboard end of the platform when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, thereby causing the platform to pivot about its connection to the support arm so as to raise the outboard end of the platform, thereby moving the platform from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.

The platform stowing linkage may comprise a pivot arm connected to the support arm via a first pivot and coupled to the platform. The pivot arm may be arranged such that it is forced to pivot downwardly about the first pivot when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration due to the contact of the platform stowing linkage with the lifting assembly, thereby exerting a downward force on the platform and causing the platform to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.

The platform stowing linkage may further comprise a stowing strut. The pivot arm may be coupled to the platform via the stowing strut. The stowing strut may be arranged such that the downward force on the platform is exerted via the stowing strut.

The lift may be arranged so that the angle between the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly and the support arm reduces when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its stowed configuration via its raised deployed configuration. The platform stowing linkage may be arranged to contact the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.

The platform stowing linkage may be connected to the support arm via a stowing linkage mount. The stowing linkage mount may he adjustably connected to the support arm to allow the adjustments of the platform stowing linkage described above.

The stowing linkage mount may be adjustably mounted on the support arm such that the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly at any given configuration of the lifting assembly between its raised deployed and stowed configurations may be adjusted.

The platform stowing linkage may he pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount, for example via the first pivot.

The stowing linkage mount may be adjustably mounted on the support arm via releasable fastenings which are received by mounting slots formed in the support arm such that the stowing linkage mount may he fastened to the support arm at any point along the length of the slots, thereby allowing the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly to be adjusted.

The wheelchair lift may further comprise: a bridge plate pivotably connected to the platform and movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration; and a bridge plate stowing linkage connected to the support arm and arranged to contact the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration so as to actuate the bridge plate stowing linkage, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its raised configuration to its lowered configuration; wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the bridge plate to be adjusted.

The bridge plate may be arranged to extend between the platform and the floor of a vehicle upon which the wheelchair lift is mounted when the lifting assembly is in the raised deployed configuration and the bridge plate is in its lowered configuration.

The bridge plate may be arranged to extend upwardly from the inboard end of the platform when the lifting assembly is in the lowered deployed configuration and the bridge plate is in its raised position.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may be adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow adjustment of the configuration of the lifting assembly at which the bridge plate stowing linkage first contacts the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its raised deployed configuration from its lowered deployed configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may he adjustably connected to the support arm so that the distance between its connection to the support arm and the portion of the lifting assembly it contacts as the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration may be adjusted.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may he arranged so that it is compressed between the support arm and the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may be arranged to contact the bridge plate, for example the underside of the bridge plate, so as to exert an upward force on the bridge plate when the lifting assembly moves from its raised deployed configuration to its lowered deployed configuration, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its lowered configuration to its raised configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may comprise an upper pivot arm connected to the support arm via an upper pivot. The upper pivot arm may be arranged such that it is forced to pivot downwardly about the upper pivot when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration due to the contact of the bridge plate stowing linkage with the lifting assembly, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its raised configuration to its lowered configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may further comprise a second stowing strut and a lower pivot arm connected to the support arm via a lower pivot. The lower pivot arm may be coupled to the upper pivot arm via the second stowing strut such that the lower pivot arm pivots about the lower pivot in the same direction as the upper pivot arm pivots about the upper pivot. The bridge plate stowing linkage may further comprise a bridge plate contact structure mounted on the lower pivot arm and arranged to contact the bridge plate so that the bridge plate is raised from its lowered configuration to its raised configuration when the lower pivot arm pivots upwardly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its lowered deployed configuration.

The contact structure may support the bridge plate.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may he arranged so that the contact structure is lowered when the lower pivot arm pivots downwardly, thereby allowing the bridge plate to lower towards its lowered configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may be connected to the support arm via a stowing linkage mount, which may be the same stowing linkage mount or a different stowing linkage mount to that optionally used to connect the platform stowing linkage to the support arm. The stowing linkage mount may he adjustably connected to the support arm to allow the adjustments of the bridge plate stowing linkage described above.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may be connected to the stowing linkage mount via the upper pivot arm.

The bridge plate stowing linkage may be pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount, for example via the second pivot.

The wheelchair lift may further comprise a handrail movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. The platform stowing linkage may be arranged to cause the handrail to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration. The handrail may be coupled to the stowing linkage assembly by a handrail stowing linkage. The handrail stowing linkage may be adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the handrail to be adjusted.

The invention also provides a wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the wheelchair lift comprising: an actuated lifting assembly, the actuated lifting assembly being movable between a lowered deployed configuration and a stowed configuration via a raised deployed configuration; a handrail movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and a stowing linkage assembly arranged to cause the handrail to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration; the handrail being coupled to the stowing linkage assembly by a handrail stowing linkage; and the handrail stowing linkage being adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the handrail to be adjusted.

The handrail stowing linkage may be adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the orientation (e.g. the angle or direction in which the handrail projects away from its connection to the lift) of the handrail in its stowed configuration to be adjusted.

For example, the handrail assembly (comprising the handrail and the handrail stowing linkage) may be configured such that the handrail stowing linkage may be adjustably mounted on the handrail in either a first position or a second position, the orientation of the handrail in its stowed configuration being different when the handrail is mounted on the handrail in the first position compared to the second position. For example, when the handrail stowing linkage is mounted on the handrail in the second position the handrail may be oriented or tilted (e.g. away from the vertical) in the inboard direction to a greater extent than when the handrail stowing linkage is mounted on the handrail in the first position.

The wheelchair lift may otherwise be configured as described above. The stowing linkage assembly may also be configured as described above for the platform stowing linkage assembly.

Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lA shows a perspective view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration.

Figure lB shows a perspective view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure IC shows a perspective view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the stowed configuration.

Figure 2A shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration.

Figure 2B shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure 2C shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the stowed configuration.

Figure 3A shows a rear view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration.

Figure 313 shows a rear view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure 3C shows a rear view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the stowed configuration.

Figure 4A shows a top view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration.

Figure 4B shows a top view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure 5A shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration with the stowing assembly covers removed to expose the stowing assembly.

Figure 5B shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration with the stowing assembly covers removed to expose the stowing 20 assembly.

Figure 5C shows a right side view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the stowed configuration with the stowing assembly covers removed to expose the stowing assembly.

Figure 6A shows a right side view of the right stowing assembly of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the raised deployed configuration.

Figure 6B shows a right side view of the right stowing assembly of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure 6C shows a right side view of the right stowing assembly of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in the stowed configuration.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of selected parts of the mounting assembly.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section through the mounting assembly and the floor of a vehicle as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section through the mounting assembly and the floor of a vehicle as viewed from the right side of the vehicle.

Figure 10 shows a right side view of the connection of the stowing linkages to the support arm via the stowing linkage mount.

Figure 11A shows a right side view of the right handrail stowing linkage in which the right handrail stowing linkage is mounted on the handrail in a first position and Figure IIB shows a right side view of the right handrail stowing linkage in which the right handrail stowing linkage is mounted on the handrail in a second position.

Like reference numerals denote like features throughout the drawings.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1A-SC, a wheelchair lift 10 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a foldable platform assembly 12, a pair of support arms 14 which are arranged substantially vertically, with the foldable platform assembly 12 supported on their lower ends, a pair of handrails 16, each pivotably mounted on one of the support arms 14, and a pair of lifting assemblies 18, each connecting the upper end of one of the support arms 14 to the floor of a vehicle.

The lifting assemblies 18 are hydraulically actuated to move the lift 10 between a stowed configuration, as shown in Figure IC, in which the platform assembly 12 is folded away and is stowed within the vehicle in a substantially vertical arrangement, and a deployed configuration, in which the platform assembly 12 is arranged to provide a substantially horizontal platform 20 upon which a wheelchair may be accommodated. In the deployed configuration, the platform assembly 12 is movable between a lowered position, in which the platform 20 rests on, or is in close proximity to, the ground and in which a wheelchair can be wheeled between the ground and the platform 20, and a raised position, as shown in Figure 1A, in which the platform 20 is approximately level with the floor of the vehicle and in which the wheelchair may be wheeled between the platform 20 and the internal floor of the vehicle. The lift 10 therefore has three principal configurations: a stowed configuration (Figure 1C), a raised deployed configuration (Figure 1A), and a lowered deployed configuration.

Typically, the wheelchair lift 10 will be mounted in a vehicle, such as a minibus, to raise and lower a wheelchair and its occupant between the ground and the inside of the vehicle. The most common arrangement is for the wheelchair lift 10 to be mounted at the rear of the vehicle so that it may be deployed through doors on the back of the vehicle. Accordingly, the frame of reference used in the following discussion assumes such a configuration. For example, the right 22 and left 24 sides of the lift 10 are those that face the left and right sides of the vehicle when looking forwards. Of course, other mounting configurations are possible, for example so that the lift 10 deploys out from the side of the vehicle. The "front" or "inboard" side 23 of the lift 10 is therefore the side that faces into the vehicle and the "rear" or "outboard" side 25 of the lift 10 is the side that faces out of the vehicle, i.e. in the direction in which the platform 20 extends away from the support arms 14 when the lift 10 is in the deployed configuration.

The lift 10 comprises right and left lifting assemblies 18. Each lifting assembly 18a, 18b comprises an upper lifting arm 26 and a lower lifting arm 28, which arc arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each of the upper 26 and lower 28 lifting arms is pivotably connected at its lower (inboard) end to a mounting turret 30, the upper lifting arm 26 being connected to the mounting turret 30 at a point above the lower lifting arm 28. The upper (outboard) end of each of the lifting arms 26, 28 is pivotably connected to the upper end of a support arm 14, again with the upper lifting arm 26 being connected to the support arm 14 at a point above the lower lifting arm 28 so as to form a parallelogram linkage. A hydraulic strut 32 is arranged between the upper 26 and lower 28 lifting arms to actuate the parallelogram linkage, which in turn causes the lift 10 to raise and lower between the stowed and deployed configurations. The hydraulic strut 32 is pivotably connected at one of its ends to a point towards or at the lower (inboard) end of the lower lifting arm 28 and is pivotably connected at its other end to a point towards or at the upper (outboard) end of the upper lifting arm 26.

As best illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9, each mounting turret 30 includes a tower 34 and base in the form of a mounting plate 36, which is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 38. The lift 10 may be mounted on, and secured to, the floor 40 of a vehicle via the mounting plate 36. Mounting bolts 42 pass though the mounting holes 38 in the mounting plate 36 and through corresponding holes 44 provided in the floor 40 of the vehicle. Mounting brackets 46 are provided on the underside of the vehicle, which are also provided with mounting holes 48, through which the mounting bolts 42 also pass. The mounting brackets 46 are arranged to engage with the chassis 50 of the vehicle to provide a secure anchorage for the lift 10 when the mounting brackets 46 are secured against the chassis 50 by way of the mounting bolts42 and corresponding mounting nuts 52 that are screwed onto the mounting bolts42 The foldable platform assembly 12 is pivotably mounted on its left hand side to the lower end of the left support arm 14, and on its right hand side to the lower end of the right support arm 14. The foldable platform assembly 12 comprises a substantially U-shaped platform frame 54. The platform frame 54 comprises a cross member 56 at its proximal (inboard) end, which extends between the left and right support arms 14, and left and right side members 58, which are connected to the cross member 56 at their proximal (inboard) ends and extend away from the cross member 56 in a substantially parallel manner. The upper surfaces of the cross member 56 and the side members 58 are generally flat and together define the platform plane. Left and right side walls 60 extend upwards in a substantially perpendicular manner from the left and right edges of the platform frame 54. The side walls 60 extend along substantially the whole length of the platform frame 54 from its proximal (inboard) end to its distal (outboard) end to prevent the wheelchair from rolling off the sides of the platform 20 when the lift 10 is in the deployed configuration. The platform frame 54 is pivotably connected towards its distal (inboard) end on its left and right sides to the left and right support arms 14, respectively, so that it may pivot about a horizontal axis that extends between the two connection points with the support arms 14.

The foldable platform assembly 12 further comprises left and right foldable platform sections 62. Each foldable platform section 62 comprises a flat base portion 64, which is connected to the inside edge of the respective side member 58 of the platform frame 54 by one or more hinges 66 so that the foldable platform section 12 can pivot between a deployed configuration, in which its base portion 64 lies in the platform plane, and a stowed configuration, in which it lies substantially perpendicular to the platform plane. When the lift 10 is raised into the stowed configuration the foldable platform sections 62 and the side members 58 extend vertically upwards to define a passageway between them. The passageway may, for example, be wide enough to allow a person to pass through, thereby allowing the door of the vehicle that the lift 10 deploys out from to he used when the lift 10 is in the stowed configuration. The inside edges of the foldable platform sections 62 abut one another when in the deployed configuration and the base portions 64 of the foldable platform sections 62 cooperate with the cross member 56 and side members 58 of the platform frame 54 to define a platform 20 upon which a person or an object, such as a wheelchair, may he placed and lifted into or lowered from a vehicle. In the deployed configuration, the foldable platform sections 62 rest on a lip 57 that extends from the distal (outboard) edge of the cross member 56 of the platform frame 54 and under the foldable platform sections 62, thereby providing support to the foldable platform sections 62. The foldable platform sections 62 also each comprise a support tab 68, which rest on the upper surface of the cross member 56 of the platform frame 54 in the deployed configuration, thereby also providing support to the foldable platform sections 62.

The foldable platform sections 62 may extend beyond the distal (outboard) ends of the side members 58 of the platform frame 54. In this case, as for the side members 58, the foldable platform sections 62 may also each comprise a side wall 70, which extends upwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer edge of the base portion 62 when the lift 10 is in the deployed configuration to prevent a wheelchair from rolling off the sides of the platform 20. The side walls 70 of the foldable platform sections 62 and the side walls 60 of the platform frame 54 cooperate to form left and right platform side walls that extend along substantially the whole length of the platform assembly 12.

Left and right hydraulically actuated roll-off ramps 72 are pivotably connected to the distal (outboard) ends of the left and right foldable platform sections 62, respectively.

When the lift 10 is in the raised deployed configuration, each of the roll-off ramps 72 extends upwards substantially perpendicularly from the base portion 64 of the foldable platform section 62 to which it is attached to prevent the wheelchair from rolling off the distal (outboard) end of the platform 20. When in the lowered deployed configuration the roll-off ramps 72 are lowered to allow the wheelchair to be wheeled between the ground and the platform 20.

The platform assembly 12 also comprises a bridge plate 74, which is pivotably connected to the proximal (inboard) end of the platform frame 54 so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis adjacent to the proximal (inboard) edge of the platform 20. The bridge plate 74 bridges the gap between the floor of the vehicle and the proximal (inboard) edge of the platform 20 when the lift 10 is in the raised deployed configuration, thereby allowing a wheelchair to be wheeled between the platform 20 and the floor of the vehicle. In the lowered deployed configuration the bridge plate 74 extends upwards from the proximal edge of the platform 20 to prevent the wheelchair from rolling off the proximal (inboard) end of the platform 20. In the stowed configuration the bridge plate 74 rests against the floor of the vehicle in a substantially horizontal manner. The bridge plate 74 also has left and right side walls 76 that extend upwards from its left and right edges.

The lift 10 also comprises left and right handrails 16, which are pivotably mounted on the left and right support arms 14, respectively. The handrails 16 project substantially horizontally away from the support arms 14 in the deployed configurations to provide handrails above and to either side of the platform 20. In the stowed configuration, the handrails 16 fold away to project substantially vertically upwards.

The raising and lowering of the lift 10 is actuated by the hydraulic struts 32 in the lifting assemblies 18. The extension and compression of the hydraulic struts 32 directly results in the raising and lowering of the lifting assemblies 18 and the support arms 14 due to the parallelogram linkage formed by these parts. The movement of the foldable platform assembly 12 and of the handrails 16 is indirectly actuated by the hydraulic struts 32 in the lifting assemblies 18 via left and right stowing linkage assemblies 78, which convert the movement of the lifting assemblies 18 and the support arms 14 into controlled movement of the foldable platform assembly 12 and the handrails 16.

As best shown in Figures 6A-D, each of the left and right stowing linkage assemblies 78 comprises a platform stowing linkage (also known as a platform stowing linkage mechanism or assembly) and a bridge plate stowing linkage (also known as a bridge plate stowing linkage mechanism or assembly). Each platform stowing linkage comprises a pivot arm 80, a contact roller 82, a stowing strut 84, and a gas strut 86. The pivot arm 80 is pivotably connected at its proximal end to the respective support arm 14 at a point below where the lifting assembly 18 is connected to the support arm 14 and above where the platform assembly 12 is connected to the support arm 14. The pivot arm 80 is arranged so that it projects away from the support arm 14 towards the respective lifting assembly 18. The contact roller 82 is mounted at the distal end of the pivot arm 80, and is arranged so that it contacts, and rolls along, the underside (or outboard-facing side) 19 of the lifting assembly 18 when the lifting assembly 18 is raised and lowered between the stowed and the raised deployed configuration s.

The pivot arm 80 is arranged so that it pivots downwards about its connection to the support arm 14 when the contact roller 82 is in contact with the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 and the angle between the lifting assembly 18 and the support arm 14 is reduced, i.e. as the lift is raised and the lifting assembly 18 moves from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration. This generally means that the pivot arm 80 forms an acute angle with respect to the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 when measured from above and an obtuse angle when measured from below. The stowing strut 84 is pivotably connected at its upper end to the pivot arm 80 and extends downwardly from the pivot arm 80 to pivotably connect at its lower end to the proximal (inboard) end of the platform assembly 12. The stowing strut 84 is connected to the platform assembly 12 to the proximal (inboard) side of the platform assembly pivot axis 86.

When the lift 10 is moved between the lowered and raised deployed configurations, the platform stowing linkage, in particular the contact roller 82, is not in contact with the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 and the platform assembly 12 is held in a substantially horizontal configuration. As the lift 10 is raised further between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration, the angle between the support arm 14 and the lifting assembly 18 continues to decrease and the distance between the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 and the support arm 14 is reduced. The platform stowing linkage, in particular contact roller 82, conies into contact with the underside (outboard-facing side) 19 of the lifting assembly 18 either as the lift 10 (and therefore also the lifting assembly 18) reaches the raised deployed configuration or at some point between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration. Once the contact roller 82 contacts the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 the contact roller 82 is forced to roll downwardly along the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 as the lift 10 is raised further, which causes the pivot arm 80 to pivot downwardly about its connection to the support arm 14. This causes the stowing strut 84 to move downwardly with respect to the support arm 14 and to exert a downward force on the proximal (inboard) end of the platform assembly 12, which causes the platform assembly 12 to pivot about its horizontal pivot axis 86, thereby raising the platform assembly 12 from the deployed configuration, in which it extends substantially horizontally, to the stowed configuration, in which it extends substantially vertically. In other words, the platform stowing linkage is compressed between the support arm 14 and the lifting assembly 18, which causes it to elongate in the vertical direction and to exert a downward force on the platform assembly 12, thereby causing the platform assembly 12 to he raised from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.

The gas strut 86 is pivotably connected to the upper end of the stowing strut 84 and extends downwardly to pivotably connect to the support arm 14. The gas strut 86 is under compression when the lift 10 is in the stowed configuration and therefore acts, together with gravity, to encourage the platform assembly 12 to lower from its stowed to its deployed configuration as the lift 10 is lowered. In particular, the gas strut 86 urges the pivot arm 80 to pivot upwardly as the lifting assembly 18 is lowered from its stowed configuration to its raised deployed configuration, and therefore urges the platform stowing linkage to lower the platform assembly 12 from its stowed configuration to its deployed configuration. The platform stowing linkage acts to control the movement of the platform assembly 12 during deployment by undergoing the reverse of the motion described above in relation to the raising of the lift.

The platform stowing linkage also comprises a cam 88 which projects outwardly from the upper end of the stowing strut 84. The cam 88 is slidably located within a slot 90 formed in a handrail stowing linkage 92, which is itself connected to the respective handrail 16. The handrail stowing linkage may be a handrail stowing linkage plate. Together, the handrail 16 and the handrail stowing linkage 92 form a handrail assembly. The slot 90 in the handrail stowing linkage 92 has a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end being closer than the distal end to the pivotal connection 94 of the handrail assembly to the support arm 14. As the lift 10 is raised from the raised deployed configuration to the stowed configuration the cam 88 exerts a downward force on the handrail stowing linkage 92 due to the downward movement of the platform stowing linkage and the confinement of the cam 88 within the slot 90 in the handrail stowing linkage 92. This causes the handrail assembly to pivot about its connection 94 to the support arm 14 therehy causing the handrail 16 to he raised from its deployed configuration, in which it extends substantially horizontally, to its stowed configuration, in which it extends substantially vertically. The confinement of the cam 88 within the slot 90 in the handrail stowing linkage 92 accommodates for the non-constant displacement of the cam 88 from the handrail assembly pivot point 94 as the handrail 16 is raised and lowered by allowing the cam 88 to slide within the slot 90.

Each of the foldable platform sections 62 comprises a stowing arm 96, which extends under the side member 58 to which the foldable platform section 62 is attached when in the deployed configuration and projects out from the side of the platform assembly 12 in the vicinity of the respective support arm 14. The stowing arm 96 is connected to the lower end of the support arm 14 via a connecting rod 98, which is pivotably and rotatably connected at its ends to the stowing arm 96 and the support arm 14 by rose joints, thereby allowing three-axis rotation of the connecting rod 98.

Only the left connecting rod 98 is shown in the figures, but both left and right connecting rods 98 are ordinarily present. The connecting rod 98 extends downwards from its connection to the support arm 14 to connect to the stowing arm 96. Thus, as the platform assembly 12 is raised from the deployed to the stowed configuration and the angle between the platform assembly 12 and the support arm 14 reduces, the connecting rod 98 exerts a downward force on the stowing arm 96, thereby causing the foldable platform section 62 to he raised from the deployed to the stowed configuration.

The bridge plate stowing linkage comprises an upper pivot arm 100, a lower pivot arm 102, a contact roller 104, a stowing strut 106, and a gas strut 108. The upper pivot arm 100, like the pivot arm 80 of the platform stowing assembly, is pivotably connected at its proximal end to one of the support arms 14 at a point below where the lifting assembly 18 is connected to the support arm 14 and above where the platform assembly 12 is connected to the support arm 14. The upper pivot arm 100 is arranged so that it projects away from the support arm 14 towards the respective lifting assembly 18. The contact roller 104 is mounted at the distal end of the upper pivot arm 100, and is arranged so that it comes into contact with and rolls along the underside of the lifting assembly 18 when the lifting assembly 18 is raised and lowered between the stowed and the deployed configurations.

The upper pivot arm 100 is arranged so that it is forced to pivot downwards about its connection to the support arm 14 when the bridge plate stowing linkage, in particular the contact roller 104, is in contact with the underside (outboard-facing side) 19 of the lifting assembly 18 and the angle between the lifting assembly 18 and the support arm 14 is reduced, i.e as the lift 10 is raised. This generally means that the upper pivot arm 100 forms an acute angle with respect to the underside of the lifting assembly 18 when measured from above and an obtuse angle when measured from below.

The lower pivot arm 102 is pivotably connected at its proximal end to the support arm 14 towards the lower end of the support arm 14. The distal ends of the lower pivot arms 102 of the left and right bridge plate stowing assemblies are connected together by a lifting bar 110 that extends between the distal ends of the left and right lower pivot arms 102 below the bridge plate 74. However, any structure that is able to contact and support the bridge plate 74 may be mounted on the lower pivot arm 102 in place of lifting bar 110. The stowing strut 106 is pivotably connected at its upper end to the upper pivot arm 100 and extends downwardly to pivotably connect at its lower end to the lower pivot arm 102.

When the lift 10 is in the lowered deployed configuration, the lifting bar 110 is in contact with the underside of the bridge plate 74 and the bridge plate 74 is thereby held in a raised configuration in which it extends upwardly from the proximal (inboard) edge of the platform 20. As the lift 10 is raised, the contact roller 104 is forced to roll downwardly along the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18, which causes the upper pivot arm 100 to pivot downwardly about its connection to the support arm 14. This in turn causes the lower pivot arm 102 to pivot downwardly about its connection to the support arm 14 due to the connection of the upper 100 and lower 102 pivot arms via the stowing strut 106. This causes the lifting bar 110 to lower relative to the support arms 14, thereby allowing the bridge plate 74 to lower under the force of gravity by pivoting about its connection to the platform assembly 12. The bridge plate 74 continues to lower as the lift 10 is raised, eventually coming to rest the floor 40 of the vehicle so that in the raised deployed configuration a wheelchair may be wheeled between the floor 40 of the vehicle and the platform 20 via the bridge plate 74. As the lift 10 is raised further into the stowed configuration the bridge plate 74 remains supported by the floor 40 of the vehicle in its lowered position. In other words, the bridge plate stowing linkage is compressed between the support arm 14 and the lifting assembly 18, which causes it to elongate in the vertical direction and for the lifting bar 110 to lower, thereby allowing the bridge plate 74 to lower from its raised configuration to its lowered configuration. The reverse operation results from lowering the lift 10 between the stowed and the deployed configurations.

The gas strut 108 is pivotably connected to the upper end of the stowing strut 106 and extends downwardly to pivotably connect to the support arm 14. The gas strut 106 is under compression and acts to keep the contact roller 104 in contact with the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 by urging the upper pivot arm 100 to pivot upwardly as the lift is lowered, which causes the bridge plate 74 to raise upwards as the lift 10 is lowered from the raised deployed configuration to the lowered deployed configuration.

As shown in Figures 1A-C, the stowing linkage assemblies 78 may be at least partially obscured from view by inner 112 and outer 114 covers mounted on the support arms 14. The covers 112, 114 improve the appearance of the lift 10, protect the stowing linkage assemblies 78, and provide improved safety.

As illustrated in Figure 10, the platform stowing linkage and the bridge plate stowing linkage may he connected to the support arm 14 via a stowing linkage mount 116, which is itself adjustably mounted on the support arm 14. This allows the relationships between the configuration of the lifting assembly 18 and the configurations of the platform assembly 12 and the bridge plate 74 to be adjusted. In particular, the configurations of the lifting assembly 18 at which the platform and bridge plate stowing linkages first contact the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 can be adjusted by adjusting the position at which the stowing linkage mount 116 is mounted on the support arm 14. The stowing linkage mount 116 is secured to the respective support arm 14 at a plurality of locations, for example using a plurality of fastenings 118. The stowing linkage mount 116 may, for example, be secured to both the left and right side walls of the support arm 14 for additional strength and stability. In the example illustrated in Figure 10 the stowing linkage mount 116 is secured to the support arm 14 at three locations on each of the left and right side walls of the support arm 14 via fastenings 118 that extend through both the stowing linkage mount 116 and the side walls of the support arm 14. One of the three locations is located between the connections of the platform and bridge plate stowing linkages to the stowing linkage mount 116, with the remaining two locations being above and below the connections of both the platform and bridge plate stowing linkages to the stowing linkage mount 116. For example, the stowing linkage mount 116 may comprise a left wall (not shown), a right wall 126, and a web 128 linking the left and right 126 walls (i.e. it may he C-shaped in cross-section). The stowing linkage mount 116 may he received between and secured to the left and right side walls of the support arm 14 and the left and right 126 walls of the stowing linkage mount 116 may be secured to the left and right side walls of the support arm 14, respectively. In other words, the stowing linkage mount 116 may be received by the support arm 14 and secured therein.

Both the platform stowing linkage and the bridge plate stowing linkage are pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount 116. The pivot arm 80 of the platform stowing linkage mount is pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount 116 via a first pivot 120 and the upper pivot arm 100 of the bridge plate stowing linkage is mounted on the stowing linkage mount 116 via a second pivot 122. The platform stowing linkage is connected to the stowing linkage mount 116 at a position below the connection of the bridge plate stowing linkage to the stowing linkage mount 116, i.e. the first pivot 120 is located below the second pivot 122. The first 120 and second 122 pivots may be supported on both sides (left and right) by the stowing linkage mount 116, for example on the left and right 126 side walls of the stowing linkage mount 116. The first 120 and second 122 pivots may be secured to the left and right126 walls of the stowing linkage mount 116 via fastenings 121, such as nuts, which project outwardly from the sides of the stowing linkage mount 116. The support arm 14 may therefore comprise channels 123 formed in its left and right side walls, the channels 123 extending in the outboard direction from the inboard-facing edges of the left and right side walls of the support arm 14 to accommodate these fastenings 121 and to allow the stowing linkage mount 116 to he received by the support arm 14 from the inboard-facing side.

The pivot arm 80 of the platform stowing linkage and the upper pivot arm 100 of the bridge plate stowing linkage may he offset from each other in the transverse (i.e. left-right) direction so that the stowing linkages do not interfere with each other. For example, the pivot arm 80 of the platform stowing linkage may be located closer towards the centre of the lift than the upper pivot arm 100 of the bridge plate stowing linkage.

The stowing linkage mount 116 is adjustably mounted on the support arm 14 so that the position of the stowing linkage mount 116 may be adjusted in the inboard-outboard direction, thus allowing the distance between the first 120 and second 122 pivots and the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 to be adjusted. In other words, the points of connection of the stowing linkages to the support arm 14 can be adjusted towards and away from the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 (or the inboard-facing side of the support arm 14). This allows adjustment of the extent to which the lifting assembly 18 must be raised before the stowing linkages first contact the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18, thereby allowing control over the movement sequence of the lifting assemblies 18, the platform assembly 12, the handrails 16, and the bridge plate 74. For example, mounting the stowing linkage mount 116 on the support arm 14 at a position closer to the lifting assembly 18 (i.e. more towards the inboard direction) will cause the stowing linkages to contact the lifting assembly 18 when the lifting assembly 18 is in a lower configuration compared to mounting the stowing linkage mount 116 on the support arm 14 at a position further from the lifting assembly 18. This has the advantage that the left and right stowing linkages can be independently adjusted so that they simultaneously contact their respective lifting assembles 18, thereby causing a symmetrical actuation of the lift 10 and distributing the load evenly.

The stowing linkage mount 116 may be configured such that the location of its mounting on the support arm 14 can be varied continuously between two extreme positions. For example, the stowing linkage mount 116 may he configured such that its location in the inboard-outboard direction may be varied continuously between an inboard-most and an outboard-most position. This allows the distance of the stowing linkage mount 116 (and therefore also the distances of the connections of the stowing linkages to the support arm 14 via the stowing linkage mount 116) from the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 at any given configuration of the lifting assembly 18 to be varied continuously. For example, the stowing linkage mount 116 may have horizontally-extending mounting slots 124 formed in it, the stowing linkage mount 116 being mountable on the support arm 14 via the slots 124 at any point along the length of the slots 124, for example using fastenings 118 which extend through the slots 124 to secure the stowing linkage mount 116 to the support arm 14.

Alternatively, the mounting slots may he formed in the support arm 14, for example in the left and right side walls of the support arm 14, with the stowing linkage mount 116 likewise being mounted on the support arm 14 via these mounting slots using fastenings that extend through the mounting slots.

The stowing linkage mount 116 and/or the support arm 14 may he configured such that adjustment only along a single axis is permitted. For example, the stowing linkage mount 116 may be adjustable relative to the support arm 14 only in the inboard-outboard direction, with little or no tilting or vertical displacement permitted. In particular, the stowing linkage mount 116 may be adjustable only such that the distances between the connections of both stowing linkages to the stowing linkage mount (e.g. the first 120 and second 122 pivots) and the inboard-facing side of the lifting assembly 18 are adjusted by equal amounts. This arrangement has the advantage that movement of both stowing linkages is adjusted relative to movement of the lifting assembly 18 by the same amounts, thus retaining the correct coordination between movement of the platform assembly 12 and the bridge plate 74.

Alternatively, the stowing linkage mount 116 may be adjustable along or about more than one axis. For example, the stowing linkage mount 116 may be tiltable relative to the support arm 14 about a transverse (left-right) axis. In particular, the distances between the connections of the two stowing linkages to the stowing linkage mount 116 (e.g. the first 120 and second 122 pivots) and the inboard-facing side of the lifting assembly 18 may be adjusted by differing amounts. This arrangement has the advantage that a greater degree of adjustment is permitted, which can be useful for fine tuning coordination between the left and right stowing linkages.

The adjustable connection of the stowing linkages on the support arm 14 via the stowing linkage mount 116 has numerous advantages. Firstly, the continuous range of adjustment provided for means that the operation of the lift 10 can be precisely fine-tuned so that the relevant parts of the lift operate in a coordinated manner and any errors resulting from manufacturing tolerances and inaccurate assembly of the lift can be compensated for.

Using an adjustable stowing linkage mount 116, rather than simply adjustably mounting the stowing linkages directly on the support arms 14, provides a more robust mounting structure which is capable of withstanding the substantial forces experienced at the first 120 and second 122 pivots and also allows for the stowing linkage mount 116 to be secured to the support arm 14 at multiple mounting points and/or using more robust fastening means to further enhance the stability of the connection of the stowing linkages to the support arm 14.

The use of a stowing linkage mount 116 also ensures that the correct alignment of the first 120 and second 122 pivots is maintained, which is difficult to achieve if the left and right ends of the first 120 and second 122 pivots are independently secured to the support arm 14.

Referring now to Figures 11A and 11B, the handrail stowing linkage 92, which couples the handrail to the respective (i.e. left or right) stowing linkage assembly 78, may be adjustably mounted on the handrail 16 so that the angle between the handrail stowing linkage 92 and the handrail 16 may be adjusted, thereby allowing the angle or orientation of the handrail 16 in the stowed configuration (and also in the deployed configuration) to be adjusted. For example, the handrail assembly may be configured such that the stowing linkage may be mounted on the handrail 16 in a first position or a second position, the angle between the handrail stowing linkage 92 and the handrail 16 being different in the first and second positions. In other words, the handrail 16 stowing linkage may be rotated relative to the handrail 16 about the pivotal connection 94 between its first and second mounting positions. The handrail stowing linkage 92 may also be mountable on the handrail 16 in a number of other positions intermediate between the first and second positions. For example, the angle between the handrail 16 and the handrail stowing linkage 92 may he adjustable continuously between a first angle (i.e. in the first position) and a second angle (i.e. in the second position). The angle between the handrail 16 and the handrail stowing linkage 92 may refer to the angle between two fixed points (e.g. A and B in Figures 11A and 11B), one on the handrail 16 (point A) and one on the handrail stowing linkage 92 (point B), about the pivotal connection (e.g. shown as a in Figures 11A and 11B).

For example, as shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the handrail stowing linkage 92 may be mounted on the handrail 16 via fastenings 93 that extend through elongate slots 95 formed in the handrail stowing linkage 92. In the first position (Figure 11A) the handrail 16 extends substantially vertically upwards in the stowed configuration and the fastenings 93 extend through the slots 95 in the handrail stowing linkage 92 at a first position along the slots 95 (e.g. at a first end of the slots 95), and in the second position (Figure 11B) the handrail 16 is tilted in the inboard direction relative to the first position in the stowed configuration and the fastenings 93 extend through the slots 95 in the handrail stowing linkage 92 at a second position along the slots 95 (e.g. at a second end of the slots 95). Of course, the adjustable mounting may be achieved by alternative means, such as by replacing the slots 95 with two or more sets of mounting holes through which the fastenings 93 may extend, one set of mounting holes for each relative angle of the handrail stowing linkage 92 with the handrail 16.

The adjustable mounting of the handrail stowing linkage 92 on the handrail 16 described above allows the orientation (i.e. the angle or direction in which it projects away from its connection 94 to the lift, in particular from the support arm 14) of the handrail 16 in the stowed configuration to be adjusted depending on the space requirements within the vehicle. For example, there may not he enough room within the vehicle to accommodate a vertically extending handrail 16, for example due to a sloping vehicle rear door, which may require the handrail 16 to be tilted in the inboard direction when in the stowed configuration so as to avoid the sloping profile of the vehicle door.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the wheelchair lift comprising: an actuated lifting assembly, the actuated lifting assembly being movable between a lowered deployed configuration and a stowed configuration via a raised deployed configuration; a support arm having an upper end and a lower end, the support arm being pivotably supported at its upper end on the lifting assembly; a platform pivotably supported on the lower end of the support arm and movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and a platform stowing linkage extending between the support arm and the platform and arranged to contact the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration so as to actuate the platform stowing linkage, thereby causing the platform to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed 15 configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration; wherein the platform stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the platform to he adjusted.
2. A wheelchair lift according to claim 1, wherein the platform stowing linkage is arranged to come into contact with the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.
3. A wheelchair lift according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the platform stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow adjustment of the configuration of the lifting assembly at which the platform stowing linkage first contacts the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration.
4. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so that the distance between its connection to the support arm and the portion of the lifting assembly it contacts when the lifting assembly is moved towards its stowed configuration may be adjusted.
5. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform stowing linkage is arranged so that it is compressed between the support arm and the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.
6. A wheelchair lift according to claim 5, wherein the compression of the platform stowing linkage causes the platform stowing linkage to exert a downward force on the platform, thereby causing the platform to be raised from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration by pivoting about its connection to the support arm.
7. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform comprises an inboard end and an outboard end, the platform being pivotably connected to the support arm between its inboard end and its outboard end, and wherein the stowing linkage exerts the downward force on the inboard end of the platform when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, thereby causing the platform to pivot about its connection to the support arm so as to raise the outboard end of the platform, thereby moving the platform from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.
8. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform stowing linkage comprises a pivot arm connected to the support arm via a first pivot and coupled to the platform, the pivot arm being arranged such that it is forced to pivot downwardly about the first pivot when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration due to the contact of the platform stowing linkage with the lifting assembly, thereby exerting a downward force on the platform and causing the platform to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.
9. A wheelchair lift according to claim 8, wherein the platform stowing linkage further comprises a stowing strut, the pivot arm being coupled to the platform via the stowing strut, the stowing strut being arranged such that the downward force on the platform is exerted via the stowing strut.
10. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly and the support arm reduces when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its stowed configuration via its raised deployed configuration, and wherein the platform stowing linkage is arranged to contact the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration.
11. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform stowing linkage is connected to the support arm via a stowing linkage mount, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably connected to the support arm.
12. A wheelchair lift according to claim 11, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably mounted on the support arm such that the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly at any given configuration of the lifting assembly between its raised deployed and stowed configurations may be adjusted.
13. A wheelchair lift according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the platform stowing linkage is pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount.
14. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably mounted on the support arm via releasable fastenings which arc received by mounting slots formed in the support arm such that the stowing linkage mount may be fastened to the support arm at any point along the length of the slots, thereby allowing the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly to be adjusted.
15. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: a bridge plate pivotably connected to the platform and movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration; and a bridge plate stowing linkage connected to the support arm and arranged to contact the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration so as to actuate the bridge plate stowing linkage, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its raised configuration to its lowered configuration; wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the bridge plate to be adjusted.
16. A wheelchair lift according to claim 15, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so as to allow adjustment of the configuration of the lifting assembly at which the bridge plate stowing linkage first contacts the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved towards its raised deployed configuration from its lowered deployed configuration.
17. A wheelchair lift according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is adjustably connected to the support arm so that the distance between its connection to the support arm and the portion of the lifting assembly it contacts when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration may be adjusted.
18. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is arranged so that it is compressed between the support arm and the lifting assembly when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration.
19. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is arranged to contact the bridge plate so as to exert an upward force on the bridge plate when the lifting assembly moves from its raised deployed configuration to its lowered deployed configuration, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its lowered configuration to its raised configuration.
20. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage comprises an upper pivot arm connected to the support arm via an upper pivot, the upper pivot arm being arranged such that it is forced to pivot downwardly about the upper pivot when the lifting assembly is moved from its lowered deployed configuration to its raised deployed configuration due to the contact of the bridge plate stowing linkage with the lifting assembly, thereby causing the bridge plate to move from its raised configuration to its lowered configuration.
21. A wheelchair lift according to claim 20, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage further comprises a second stowing strut and a lower pivot arm connected to the support arm via a lower pivot, the lower pivot arm being coupled to the upper pivot arm via the second stowing strut such that the lower pivot arm pivots about the lower pivot in the same direction as the upper pivot arm pivots about the upper pivot, the bridge plate stowing linkage further comprising a bridge plate contact structure mounted on the lower pivot arm and arranged to contact the bridge plate so that the bridge plate is raised from its lowered configuration to its raised configuration when the lower pivot arm pivots upwardly when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its lowered deployed configuration.
22. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the platform stowing linkage is connected to the support arm via a stowing linkage mount, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably connected to the support arm.
23. A wheelchair lift according to claim 22, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably mounted on the support arm such that the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly at any given configuration of the lifting assembly between its raised deployed and stowed configurations may be adjusted.
24. A wheelchair lift according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the platform stowing linkage is pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount.
25. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the stowing linkage mount is adjustably mounted on the support arm via releasable fastenings which are received by mounting slots formed in the support arm such that the linkage mount may he fastened to the support arm at any point along the length of the slots, thereby allowing the distance between the stowing linkage mount and the outboard-facing side of the lifting assembly to be adjusted.
26. A wheelchair lift according to any one of claims 22 to 24. wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is connected to the support arm via the stowing linkage mount.
27. A wheelchair lift according to claim 26, wherein the bridge plate stowing linkage is pivotably connected to the stowing linkage mount.
28. A wheelchair lift according to any preceding claim, further comprising a handrail movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; the platform stowing linkage being arranged to cause the handrail to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration; the handrail being coupled to the stowing linkage assembly by a handrail stowing linkage; and the handrail stowing linkage being adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the handrail to he adjusted
29. A wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the wheelchair lift comprising: an actuated lifting assembly, the actuated lifting assembly being movable between a lowered deployed configuration and a stowed configuration via a raised deployed configuration; a handrail movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and a stowing linkage assembly arranged to cause the handrail to move from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration when the lifting assembly is moved from its raised deployed configuration to its stowed configuration; the handrail being coupled to the stowing linkage assembly by a handrail stowing linkage; and the handrail stowing linkage being adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the relationship between the configuration of the lifting assembly and the configuration of the handrail to he adjusted.
30. A wheelchair lift according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the handrail stowing linkage is adjustably mounted on the handrail so as to allow the orientation of the handrail in its stowed configuration to be adjusted.