GB2583449A

GB2583449A - Wheelchair lift

Info

Publication number: GB2583449A
Application number: GB1904157.3A
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: 2020-11-04
Also published as: GB201904157D0

Abstract

A method of securing a wheelchair lift to a vehicle comprising forming first and second mounting points using a jig 55 and attaching mounting structures 30 for a wheelchair lift to the points. The jig 55 may form the baseplate of the lift. The mounting structures may be secured to the chassis of the vehicle through the floor of the vehicle using a clamp. The clamp may employ first and second brackets with adjustable upper 47 and lower parts 49 to fit different chassis joined by a strut 51. The lift may have towers and lifting arms. Also disclosed is a kit of parts with mounting structures and a jig. The kit may be flat packed.

Description

WHEELCHAIR LIFT

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to foldable wheelchair lifts for mounting on vehicles, and methods of securing the same to vehicles.

Background

Foldable 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 arc 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 lifts are generally mounted on vehicles via a mounting structure that includes a baseplate and two mounting turrets, to which the lifting assemblies arc connected. The mounting structure is a single structure, and is secured to the floor of the vehicle via the baseplate. However, such mounting structures are both cumbersome and heavy, which represent significant drawbacks in the vehicular environment, where both space and weight are at a premium.

The baseplate is also typically of a substantial thickness so as to provide the necessary strength required for mounting the lift on the vehicle securely, and to provide reinforcement the floor 40 of the vehicle. The baseplate therefore typically projects substantially above the floor 40 of the vehicle and represents an obstacle that must he traversed by the user of the lift. Since most users of such lifts will be wheelchair users, the baseplate effectively acts as a low barrier or "speed bump", which must be traversed in order to pass between the lift platform and the inside of the vehicle. This can require significant effort on the part of the wheelchair user.

The mounting structures typically used in wheelchair lifts are also bulky structures, which must be stored and transported prior to the assembly of the lift. If the lifting assemblies and other parts of the lift are pre-assembled onto the mounting structure before delivery to the customer the resulting assembly is cumbersome and heavy, which makes installation of the lift difficult and precludes efficient packing of the lift for storage and delivery. For example, it is not possible to flat-pack such an assembly, and the container in which the lift is packaged will include a substantial amount of wasted space. These considerations arc a major barrier to providing lifts in modular form, which would be more cost efficient, more flexible, easier to transport, and would simplify supply and inventory logistics.

There is therefore a need for wheelchair lifts, and methods of mounting wheelchair lifts on vehicles, that address these problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of securing a wheelchair lift to a vehicle, the method comprising: forming a first set of mounting points at a first location on the vehicle and a second set of mounting points at a second location on the vehicle, wherein the relative positioning of the mounting points is determined using a jig; moving a first mounting structure for a wheelchair lift and a second mounting structure for a wheelchair lift relative to each other to align the first mounting structure with the first set of mounting points and the second mounting structure with the second set of mounting points; and securing the first and second mounting structures to the vehicle using the first and second sets of mounting points respectively.

The mounting points may be mounting holes that extend through the floor of the vehicle.

The mounting structures may he secured to the vehicle using fastenings that extend through the mounting holes.

Optionally, the jig is not secured to the vehicle.

Optionally, the jig does not form a part of the fully assembled lift.

The mounting structures may be secured against the floor of the vehicle.

The jig may be secured to the vehicle to form a part of the fully assembled lift.

The jig may be a baseplate in the fully assembled lift.

The mounting structures may be secured to the chassis of the vehicle.

The mounting structures may he secured to the chassis through the floor of the vehicle.

The mounting structures may be secured to at least one lo g tudinal rail of the chassis.

The first mounting structure may be secured to a first longitudinal rail of the chassis. The second mounting structure may be secured to a second longitudinal rail of the chassis.

The first and second mounting structures may be secured to the same longitudinal rail of the chassis.

The mounting structures may also he secured to the floor of the vehicle.

The first and second mounting structures may be secured to the chassis by a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly may engage with the chassis, thereby securing the mounting structures to the chassis.

The clamping assembly may be fastened to the mounting structures through the floor of the vehicle.

Fastening the clamping assembly to the mounting structures may cause the clamping assembly to engage with the underside of the chassis.

The first and second locations may be located over the chassis.

The mounting structures may be separate and discrete structures.

The mounting points may he arranged so that securing the mounting structures to the vehicle using the mounting points causes the first and second mounting structures to be located relative to each other as they are in the fully assembled wheelchair lift.

The first mounting structure may be configured to form a part of a first lifting assembly. The second mounting structure may be configured to form a part of a second lifting assembly.

Each of the lifting assemblies may comprise a first lifting arm and a second lifting arm. Each of the mounting structures may be configured to be connected to the first lifting arm and the second lifting arm of the lifting assembly.

The mounting structures may each comprise a base part, for example a mounting plate, for securing the mounting structure to the vehicle. The mounting structures may each comprise a tower for connecting the mounting structure to the first and second lifting arms.

The tower may project upwardly from an upper surface of the base part.

The base part may comprise means for securing the mounting structure to the vehicle. The tower may comprise means for connecting the first and second lifting arms to the mounting structure.

Each of the mounting structures may be assembled into a lifting assembly either before or after the mounting structures are secured to the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for a wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the kit comprising: a first mounting structure for a wheelchair lift, wherein the first mounting structure is configured to be secured to a vehicle; a second mounting structure for a wheelchair lift, wherein the second mounting structure is configured to be secured to a vehicle; and a jig for determining the relative positioning of a first set of mounting points on a vehicle for securing the first mounting structure to the vehicle and a second set of mounting points on the vehicle for securing the second mounting structure to the vehicle; wherein the first and second mounting structures are moveable relative to each other.

The jig may be configured to act as a template for the plurality of mounting holes.

The jig may have a plurality of holes therethrough. The holes may have relative locations corresponding to the relative locations of the plurality of mounting point s for locating the plurality of mounting points.

The jig may he configured to form a part of the fully assembled lift.

The mounting structures may be configured to be secured against the floor of the vehicle.

The jig may be configured to form a part of the fully assembled lift.

The jig may be configured to be a baseplate in the fully assembled lift.

The kit of parts may further comprise a clamping assembly configured to secure the first and second mounting structures to the chassis of the vehicle.

The clamping assembly may he configured to engage with the chassis to secure the mounting structures to the chassis.

The clamping assembly may be configured to be fastened to the mounting structures through the floor of the vehicle.

The clamping assembly may be configured to engage with the underside of the chassis.

The clamping assembly may comprise a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket may be configured to be fastened to the first mounting structure. The second bracket may be configured to be fastened to the second mounting structure.

The clamping assembly may further comprise a strut configured to extend between the brackets and to secure the brackets together.

Each of the brackets may comprise an upper bracket part and a lower bracket part. The upper bracket part may be configured to be fastened to one of the mounting structures. The lower bracket part may he configured to engage with the chassis. The upper and lower bracket parts may be configured to be secured together.

The upper and lower bracket parts may be adjustable relative to each other to accommodate different sized chassis.

The mounting structures may be separate and discrete structures.

The first mounting structure may he configured to form a part of a first lifting assembly. The second mounting structure may he configured to form a part of a second lifting assembly.

The tower may project upwardly from an upper surface of the base part.

The base part may comprise means for securing the mounting structure to the vehicle.

The tower may comprise means for connecting the first and second lifting arms to the mounting structure.

The first mounting structure may form part of a first lifting assembly. The second mounting structure may form part of a second lifting assembly.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a wheelchair lift assembled from a kit of parts as described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a packaged kit of parts as described above.

The kit may be flat-packed.

The first and second lifting assemblies may he contained in the same package Each lifting assembly may comprise first and second lifting arms. The first and second lifting assemblies may be arranged so that the first and second lifting arms of both lifting assemblies are arranged in a single plane.

The first and second lifting assemblies may he arranged relative to each other so that the outboard face or inboard face of each lifting assembly faces the outboard or inboard face of the other lifting assembly.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a mounting structure for a wheelchair lift as described above, wherein the mounting structure is alloy cast.

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 1B shows a perspective view of a wheelchair lift according to the invention in transit between the raised deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

Figure 1C 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 3B 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 assembly.

Figure SC 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 a mounting assembly.

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

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

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of selected parts of a mounting assembly.

Figure 11 shows a cross-section through a mounting assembly and the floor of a vehicle as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

Figure 12 shows a cross-section through a mounting assembly and the floor of a vehicle as viewed from the right side of the vehicle.

Figure 13A shows a cross-section through a first package containing parts for a wheelchair lift as viewed from the top.

Figure 13B shows a cross-section through a first package containing parts for a wheelchair lift as viewed from the side.

Figure 14A shows a cross-section through a second package containing parts for a wheelchair lift as viewed from the top.

Figure 14B shows a cross-section through a second package containing parts for a wheelchair lift as viewed from the side.

Like reference numerals denote like features throughout the drawings.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1A-5C, 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 1C, 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, I 8b comprises an upper lifting arm 26 and a lower lifting arm 28, which are 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, which is one particular type of mounting structure, includes a tower 34 and a base in the form of a mounting plate 36, which is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 38. The tower 34 is located approximately centrally on the mounting plate 36 and projects in an upward direction therefrom. The tower 36 comprises left 37 and right 39 side walls, which are provided with mounting points for the upper 26 and lower 28 lifting arms in the form of mounting holes 41. The tower 34 further comprises a front wall 43, which extends between and connects the left 37 and right 39 side walls and provides additional strength.

In the examples illustrated in the figures, each mounting plate 36 is provided with four mounting holes 38, with two mounting holes 38 being provided to each of the left and right sides of the tower 36. The two mounting holes 38 provided to each side of the tower 34 are spaced apart along the forwards-backwards direction, with one of the mounting holes 38 being located towards the rear of the mounting plate 36 and one towards the front of the mounting plate 36. This allows the mounting turrets 30 to he secured to the vehicle more securely and reduces the chances of the mounting turrets 30 being lifted from the floor 40 of the vehicle when the lift 10 is in use. Of course, other arrangements of mounting holes 38 are possible. However, it is generally preferable for there to be at least one mounting hole 38 on either side of the tower 34, and it is further preferable for there to he at least two mounting holes 38 on either side of the tower 34 that are spaced apart in the forwards-backwards direction, as described above.

The lift 10 may he mounted on, and secured to, the floor 40 of a vehicle via the mounting plates 36 of the mounting turrets 30, specifically using the mounting holes 38 in the mounting plate 36. For this reason, the mounting plate 36 generally has a flat lower surface for contacting the floor 40 of the vehicle. 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 arc 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 the mounting bolts 42 and corresponding mounting nuts 52 that are screwed onto the mounting bolts 42.

Vehicle chassis 50 typically comprise left 71 and right 73 longitudinal rails that extend along the vehicle in the forwards-backwards direction, and a plurality of cross-members (not shown) that connect and extend between the left 71 and right 73 side rails. The arrangement shown in Figures 8 and 11 corresponds to the mounting of the lift 10 on the vehicle so that the lift 10 is deployed out from the rear of the vehicle. As such, the mounting brackets 46 are secured to the left 71 and right 73 longitudinal rails of the chassis 50, which are shown in cross-section in Figures 8 and 11. In particular, the left mounting turret 30 is secured to the left longitudinal rail 71 of the chassis 50 by the mounting brackets 46 and the right mounting turret 30 is secured to the right longitudinal rail 73 of the chassis 50 by the mounting brackets 46. Alternatively, it is possible for the lift 10 to he mounted on the vehicle so that it is deployed out from the side of the vehicle. In such an arrangement, the left and right mounting turrets 30 will instead both be secured to one of the left 71 or right 73 longitudinal rails of the chassis 50 by the mounting brackets 46, depending on which side of the vehicle the lift 10 is mounted.

The mounting brackets 46 each comprise an upper 47 and a lower 49 bracket part. Each of the bracket parts 47, 49 is a L-shaped in cross section and comprises two perpendicularly arranged plates joined at a ridge. Each of the plates of each bracket part 47, 49 has formed in it at least one (two shown in the figures) elongated mounting hole 48 in the form of a slot, with the long-axis of the slot extending in a direction away from the ridge.

One of the plates of the upper bracket part 47 is fastened to the mounting turret 30 by a fastening, such as a mounting bolt 42, as described above, that extends through the floor 40 of the vehicle and through one of the mounting holes 48 in the upper bracket part 47. The upper bracket part 47 is thereby secured against the underside of the floor 40 of the vehicle, with one of the plates of the upper bracket part 47 in contact with the underside of the floor 40 of the vehicle and extending horizontally, and the other plate extending vertically downwards. The elongated mounting hole 48 in the upper bracket part 47 allows the position of the upper bracket part 47 to be adjusted so that the vertically extending plate of the upper bracket part 47 contacts the side of the vehicle chassis 50, as shown in Figure 8.

The lower bracket part 49 is secured to the vertically extending plate of the upper bracket part 47 so that it extends downwardly from the upper bracket part 47 and under the chassis 50 of the vehicle. The vertically extending plates of the upper 47 and lower 49 bracket parts are fastened together using fastenings, such as bolts, that extend through the elongated mounting holes 48 provided in the vertically extending plates of the bracket parts 47, 49. This allows the relative vertical displacement of the upper 47 and lower 49 bracket parts to be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of vehicle chassis 50. Specifically, the relative vertical displacement of the upper 47 and lower 49 bracket parts should be chosen so that the horizontally extending plate of the lower bracket part 49 extends under and contacts the underside of the vehicle chassis 50, as shown in Figure 8. As the mounting bracket 46 is fastened to one of the mounting turrets 30 through the floor 40 of the vehicle by screwing a nut 52 onto the end of a mounting bolt 42 extending through one of the mounting holes 48 in the horizontal plate of the upper bracket part 47, the mounting bracket 46 is pulled in an upwards direction towards the underside of the floor 40 of the vehicle. As the mounting bracket 46 continues upwards, the mounting bracket 46 eventually contacts and engages securely with the underside of the chassis 50 to secure the mounting turret 30 to the vehicle.

The left and right mounting brackets 46 may be secured together by a strut 51 that extends between, and is secured to, the left and right lower bracket parts 49 using the elongated mounting holes 48 on the horizontally extending plates of the lower bracket parts 49. The strut 51 is preferably secured to the underside of the lower bracket parts 49, as shown, for example, in Figure 8. Again, the elongated mounting holes 48 allow the strut 51 to be secured to the mounting brackets 46 at a range of separations between the mounting brackets 46, thereby allowing different sized chassis 50 to be easily accommodated. The strut 51 itself is also provided with a plurality of mounting holes 53 along its length, which provides further adjustability. The strut 51 causes the mounting brackets 46 to clamp onto the chassis 50 more securely and provides additional strength.

Although it is possible to use only a single mounting bracket 46 to secure each of the mounting turrets 30 to the chassis 50, it is preferable to secure each mounting turret 30 to the chassis 50 using two or more mounting brackets 46 spaced apart along the chassis 50, as is shown in Figure 9.

Instead of, or in addition to, securing the mounting turrets 30 to the chassis 50 using brackets 46, the mounting turrets 30 may be secured to the floor 40 of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 8. For example, fastenings, such as mounting bolts 42 may extend through the mounting holes 38 in the mounting plate 36 of the mounting turret 30 and through corresponding mounting holes 44 formed in the floor 40 of the vehicle to secure the mounting turret 30 to the floor 40 of the vehicle.

In order to correctly position the mounting turrets 30 relative to each other and to ensure the correct spacing between them, a jig 55 may be used to ensure that the mounting holes 44 are drilled in the correct locations in the floor 40 of the vehicle. Figure 10 illustrates an example of such a jig 55. The particular jig 55 illustrated in Figure 10 is a metal plate with a number of guide holes 59 formed in it. The locations of the guide holes 59 correspond to the relative locations of the mounting turret 30 mounting holes 38 when the lift 10 is fully assembled. The jig 55 can he used as a template to mark out the locations where the mounting holes 44 are to he drilled in the floor 40 of the vehicle, with the guide holes 59 being used to indicate the locations for the mounting holes 44 in the floor 40 of the vehicle. The jig 55 can then be removed before the mounting holes 44 themselves are drilled. Alternatively, the jig 55 may remain in situ on the floor 40 of the vehicle while the mounting holes 44 are drilled, thereby acting as a guide for the drill to ensure the mounting holes 44 are drilled in the correct locations. In the latter case, the jig 55 may be held in place on the floor 40 of the vehicle, for example by being screwed onto the floor 40 of the vehicle.

The jig 55 may be removed from the vehicle before the mounting turrets 30 are secured to the vehicle, with the mounting turrets 30 subsequently secured directly against the floor 40 of the vehicle, as is shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, the jig 55 may he incorporated into the lift. For example, the jig 55 may remain in place once the mounting holes 44 have been formed in the floor 40 of the vehicle, or it may be returned to be placed against the floor 40 of the vehicle if it has been previously removed, and the mounting turrets 30 may he secured against the upper surface 61 of the jig 55, with the jig 55 being located between the mounting turrets 30 and the floor 40 of the vehicle, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The jig 55 may be held in place using the same fastenings that secure the mounting turrets 30 to the vehicle, namely the mounting bolts 42, which also pass through the guide holes 59 of the jig 55. The jig 55 may also he secured to the floor 40 of the vehicle by other means, such as screws 63 or other fastenings that extend through the jig 55 and into the floor 40 of the vehicle. For example, the jig 55 may be secured to the floor 40 of the vehicle at one or more locations between the two mounting turrets 30, as shown in Figure 11.

When incorporated into the lift, the jig 55 acts as a baseplate for the lift, which provides additional strength to the lift 10 and reinforces the floor 40 of the vehicle. The use of the jig 55 as a baseplate also spreads the weight of the lift 10 more evenly over the floor 40 of the vehicle. Depending on the strength of the vehicle floor 40, it is possible to incorporate more than one jig 55 into the lift 10 to provide additional reinforcement, with each jig 55 located between the mounting turrets 30 and the floor 40 of the vehicle.

The jig 55 and/or the mounting turrets 30 may additionally include locating means to ensure that the mounting turrets 30 are correctly located on the jig 55 where they should he in the fully assembled lift. The locating means may for example, he two sets of locating holes 65, one for each of the mounting turrets 30. Each of the mounting turrets 30 may also include a corresponding set of locating holes 67 in its mounting plate 36. The locating holes 67 in the mounting turret 30 are aligned with the locating holes 65 in the jig 55 to correctly locate the mounting turret 30 on the jig 55.

Alternatively, the locating means may comprise at least one ridge or a groove on the jig 55 that engages with at least one corresponding groove or ridge on the mounting turret 30 to locate the mounting turret 30 on the jig 55. Alternatively, the locating means may comprise one or more protrusions on the lower surface of the mounting plate 36 and one or more recesses on the upper surface of the jig 55 into which the protrusions of the mounting plate 36 are received, or vice versa. Alternatively, the mounting turret 30 may be received be a recess in the upper surface 61 of the jig 55 configured to locate the mounting turret 30. The recess may, for example, be sized and shaped to receive the mounting plate 36 of the mounting turret 30 so that the mounting turret 30 is correctly located on the jig 55.

The mounting turrets 30 may be secured to the vehicle either by themselves, with each of the mounting turrets 30 thereafter being assembled into one of the lifting assemblies 18, or they may already be assembled as part of a lifting assembly 18 before being secured to the vehicle. The lifting assemblies 18 themselves may also be connected to other parts of the lift, such as the support arms 14, when the mounting turrets 30 are secured to the vehicle as described above.

The use of two separate and discrete mounting structures (rather than a single mounting structure that includes and extends between the two mounting turrets 30) significantly reduces the weight of the lift 10 and eliminates or reduces the size of the obstruction that usually extends between the two mounting turrets 30 in conventional vehicle-mounted lifts. As described above, the jig 55 may be included in the fully assembled lift 10 to provide additional strength where required, but this is dependent on the type of vehicle and is not an inherent limitation of this design. Moreover, even when the jig 55 is included, the resulting overall weight of the lift 10 and the size of the obstruction are still reduced since the jig 55 is a relatively thin plate compared to the mounting structures typically used in vehicle-mounted lifts. For example, the jig 55 is typically less than 10 mm thick, for example about 2 to 8 mm thick, 2 to 6 mm thick, or 3 to 5 mm thick. The option to include more than one jig 55 in the assembled lift 10 allows the optimum amount of material to be included in the lift 10 to provide the required strength without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the lift 10 or the size of the obstruction between the mounting turrets 30.

Another major advantage of using two separate mounting turrets 30 is that the lift 10 can be packaged in a much more space-efficient manner. For example, the lift 10 can be flat-packed, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and supplied in a modular manner to be assembled in situ. This reduces the expense involved in shipping the lift 10 and reduces the amount of storage space required. Because the two mounting turrets 30 are separate from one another they can be arranged independently within the packaging.

For example, the lift 10 can be packaged with each of the mounting turrets 30 assembled as part of a lifting assembly 18. Each lifting assembly 18 may also be assembled as part of a lifting module 21 comprising the lifting assembly 18, a support arm 14, and optionally also a handrail 16. The left and right lifting assemblies 18 or modules 21 are then packaged in the same package 27 (e.g. box or crate) so that the left and right lifting assemblies 18 or modules 21 are inverted with respect to each other (i.e_ the two lifting assemblies 18 or modules 21 are arranged upside-down with respect to each other). In particular, the left and right lifting modules 18 are packaged in their stowed configurations and are arranged so that the upper 26 and lower 28 lifting arms of both of the lifting assemblies 18 are all arranged in the same plane. In particular, the longitudinal axes of the lifting arms 26, 28 of both of the lifting assemblies 18 are all arranged in the same plane. The left and right support arms 14, in particular the longitudinal axes of the support arms 14, may also be arranged in the same plane as the upper 26 and lower 28 lifting arms of the lifting assemblies 18. The right and left lifting assemblies 18 (or lifting modules 21) may he arranged relative to each other so that the outboard face or inboard face of each lifting assembly 18 (or module 21) faces the outboard or inboard face of the other lifting assembly 18 (or module 21). In this sense, the inboard face is the face that faces the towards the inside of the vehicle when the lift 10 is in the stowed configuration and the outboard face is the face that faces outwardly away from the vehicle when the lift 10 is in the stowed configuration. Preferably, the lifting modules 21 are arranged within the package 27 so that the outboard faces of each of the lifting modules 21 face each other, as illustrated in Figure 13A, since this results in the most efficient tessellation of the lifting modules 21. Alternatively, the lifting assemblies 18, or lifting modules 21, may be arranged side-by side within the package 27 so that the left-or right-hand side of one of the lifting assemblies 18 or modules 21 faces the left-or right-hand side of the other lifting assembly 18 or module 21. The platform assembly 12 may be contained in a different package 29, as shown in Figure 14.

A further advantage of using two separate mounting structures is that the mounting structures can be alloy cast, with each mounting structure being formed as a single piece. This increases the strength of the mounting structures and simplifies their manufacture.

Due to the modular nature of the mounting assembly described above, it is advantageous if as many of the component parts as possible are non-handed (i.e. can be superimposed on their mirror image) to reduce the overall number of unique component parts and to simplify manufacture and stocking/distribution logistics. For example, the mounting turrets 30 may be made non-handed so that they can be used either in the left-hand lifting module 21 or the right-hand lifting module 21. In other words, the left and right mounting turrets 30 are identical and interchangeable. The various mounting brackets 47, 49 described above may also all be identical and interchangeable so that only a single bracket part need be manufactured, stocked and supplied. For example, the left and right upper 47 and lower 49 bracket parts may all be identical L-shaped brackets as described above.

Referring now again to Figures 1A-5C, 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 be 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-C, each of the left and right stowing linkage assemblies 78 comprises a platform stowing linkage and a bridge plate stowing linkage. 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 19 of the lifting assembly 18 when the lifting assembly 18 is raised and lowered between the stowed and the raised deployed configurations.

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. 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 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 contact roller 82 is brought into contact with the underside 19 of the lifting assembly 18 either as the lift 10 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 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.

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 84 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. 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. 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 thereby causing the handrail 16 to be 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 earn 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 be 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 contacts 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 contact roller 104 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 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. 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 by 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. 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, 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.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of securing a wheelchair lift to a vehicle, the method comprising: forming a first set of mounting points at a first location on the vehicle and a second set of mounting points at a second location on the vehicle, wherein the relative positioning of the mounting points is determined using a jig; moving a first mounting structure for a wheelchair lift and a second mounting structure for a wheelchair lift relative to each other to align the first mounting structure with the first set of mounting points and the second mounting structure with the second set of mounting points; and securing the first and second mounting structures to the vehicle using the first and second sets of mounting points respectively.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting points are mounting holes that extend through the floor of the vehicle.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the mounting structures are secured to the vehicle using fastenings that extend through the mounting holes.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the jig is not secured to the vehicle.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the jig does not form a part of the fully assembled lift.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting structures are secured against the floor of the vehicle.
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the jig is secured to the vehicle to form a part of the fully assembled lift.
8. A method according to claim 7. wherein the jig is a baseplate in the fully assembled lift.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting structures are secured to the chassis of the vehicle.
10. A method according to claim 9. wherein the mounting structures are secured to the chassis through the floor of the vehicle.
11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the mounting structures are secured to at least one longitudinal rail of the chassis.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the first mounting structure is secured to a first longitudinal rail of the chassis and the second mounting structure is secured to a second longitudinal rail of the chassis, or wherein the first and second mounting structures are secured to the same longitudinal rail of the chassis.
13. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the mounting structures are also secured to the floor of the vehicle.
14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the first and second mounting structures are secured to the chassis by a clamping assembly, wherein the clamping assembly engages with the chassis, thereby securing the mounting structures to the chassis.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the clamping assembly is fastened to the mounting structures through the floor of the vehicle.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein fastening the clamping assembly to the mounting structures causes the clamping assembly to engage with the underside of the chassis.
17. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second locations are located over the chassis.
18. A kit of parts for a wheelchair lift for a vehicle, the kit comprising: a first mounting structure for a wheelchair lift, wherein the first mounting structure is configured to he secured to a vehicle; a second mounting structure for a wheelchair lift, wherein the second mounting structure is configured to be secured to a vehicle; and a jig for determining the relative positioning of a first set of mounting points on a vehicle for securing the first mounting structure to the vehicle and a second set of mounting points on the vehicle for securing the second mounting structure to the vehicle; wherein the first and second mounting structures are moveable relative to each other.
19. A kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein the mounting points are mounting holes that extend through the floor of the vehicle.
20. A kit of parts according to claim 19, wherein the jig is configured to act as a template for the plurality of mounting holes.
21. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the jig has a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes having relative locations corresponding to the relative locations of the plurality of mounting points for locating the plurality of mounting points.
22. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the jig is configured to form a part of the fully assembled lift.
23. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the mounting structures are configured to be secured against the floor of the vehicle.
24. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the jig is configured to form a part of the fully assembled lift.
25. A kit of parts according to claim 24, wherein the jig is configured to be a baseplate in the fully assembled lift.
26. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 25 further comprising a clamping assembly configured to secure the first and second mounting structures to the chassis of the vehicle.
27. A kit of parts according to claim 26, wherein the clamping assembly is configured to engage with the chassis to secure the mounting structures to the chassis.
28. A kit of parts according to claim 26 or 27. wherein the clamping assembly is configured to be fastened to the mounting structures through the floor of the vehicle.
29. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the clamping assembly is configured to engage with the underside of the chassis.
30. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the clamping assembly comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, wherein the first bracket is configured to be fastened to the first mounting structure and the second bracket is configured to be fastened to the second mounting structure.
31. A kit of parts according to claim 30, wherein the clamping assembly further comprises a strut configured to extend between the brackets and to secure the brackets together.
32. A kit of parts according to claim 30 or 31, wherein each of the brackets comprises an upper bracket part and a lower bracket part, wherein the upper bracket part is configured to be fastened to one of the mounting structures and the lower bracket part is configured to engage with the chassis, wherein the upper and lower bracket parts are configured to be secured together.
33. A kit of parts according to claim 32, wherein the upper and lower bracket parts are adjustable relative to each other to accommodate different sized chassis.
34. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, or a kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 33, wherein the mounting structures arc separate and discrete structures.
35. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, or 34, or a kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 34, wherein the mounting points are arranged so that securing the mounting structures to the vehicle using the mounting points causes the first and second mounting structures to be located relative to each other as they are in the fully assembled wheelchair lift.
36. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, 34 or 35, or a kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 35, wherein the first mounting structure is configured to form a part of a first lifting assembly and the second mounting structure is configured to form a part of a second lifting assembly.
37. A method or a kit of parts according to claim 36, wherein each of the lifting assemblies comprises a first lifting arm and a second lifting arm, and wherein each of the mounting structures is configured to be connected to the first lifting arm and the second lifting arm of the lifting assembly.
38. A method or a kit of parts according to claim 37, wherein the mounting structures each comprise a base part for securing the mounting structure to the vehicle, and a tower for connecting the mounting structure to the first and second lifting arms.
39. A method or a kit of parts according to claim 38, wherein the tower projects upwardly from an upper surface of the base part.
40. A method or a kit of parts according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the base part comprises means for securing the mounting structure to the vehicle, and wherein the tower comprises means for connecting the first and second lifting arms to the mounting structure.
41. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein the first mounting structure forms part of a first lifting assembly and the second mounting structure forms part of a second lifting assembly.
42. A method according to any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein each of the mounting structures is assembled into a lifting assembly either before or after the mounting structures are secured to the vehicle.
43. A wheelchair lift assembled from a kit of parts according to any one of claims 18 to 41.
44. A packaged kit of parts according to any one of claims 36 to 41.
45. A packaged kit of parts according to claim 44, wherein the kit is flat-packed.
46. A packaged kit of parts according to claim 44 or 45, wherein the first and second lifting assemblies are contained in the same package
47. A packaged kit of parts according to claim 46, wherein each lifting assembly comprises first and second lifting arms, and wherein the first and second lifting assemblies are arranged so that the first and second lifting arms of both lifting assemblies are arranged in a single plane.
48. A packaged kit of parts according to claim 46 or 47, wherein the first and second lifting assemblies are arranged relative to each other so that the outboard face or inboard face of each lifting assembly faces the outboard or inboard face of the other lifting assembly.
49. A method of making a mounting structure for a wheelchair lift according to claim 43, wherein the mounting structure is alloy cast.