GB2584269A

GB2584269A - Handrail

Info

Publication number: GB2584269A
Application number: GB1904153.2A
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: 2020-12-02
Also published as: GB201904153D0

Abstract

A handrail 16 for a vehicle-mounted wheelchair lift which includes a source of illumination 116. The handrail may be made from a transparent or translucent plastic material. The light may be provided by LEDs 116 running along the length of the handrail to illuminate it’s interior. The lights may be positioned in a channel on a bottom edge of the handrail. The illumination source may be mounted on a cradle and attached by a snap fit or friction fit attachment. Alternatively, an optical adhesive may be used.

Description

HANDRAIL

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to handrails for wheelchair lifts, in particular for vehicle-mounted wheelchair lifts.

Background

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.

In order to save space, it is important that the wheelchair lift is foldable into a relatively compact configuration when not in use.

It is also important to keep the weight of such lifts as low as possible to reduce the adverse effect on the handling of the vehicle, to minimise the burden on the chassis, suspension, and wheels of the vehicle, and to save fuel.

A further issue with such lifts is that they represent a potential hazard when being deployed. This is especially problematic in low lighting conditions when the lift cannot he seen as well. It is also important to make the lift as user-friendly as possible in all lighting conditions and for persons who are visually impaired and may find using the lift difficult, or even dangerous.

There is therefore a need for wheelchair lift components that address these issues.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a handrail for a vehicle-mounted wheelchair lift, wherein the handrail includes a source of illumination arranged to illuminate the handrail.

The handrail may be made from a transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material.

The transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material may be a plastic.

The source of illumination may be arranged to illuminate the interior of the handrail.

The source of illumination may comprise a plurality of LEDs.

The source of illumination may extend along substantially the entire length of the handrail.

The source of illumination may he arranged along the bottom edge of the handrail. The source of illumination may be arranged to direct light upwardly into the handrail so as to illuminate the handrail.

The handrail may include a recess to receive the source of illumination.

The recess may extend along the bottom edge of the handrail to form a channel.

The source of illumination may he releasahly attached to the handrail.

The source of illumination may be mounted on a cradle. The cradle may be arranged to attach to the edge, for example the outer edge, more specifically to the bottom edge, of the handrail.

The cradle may be arranged to grip the handrail.

The cradle may be attached to the handrail via a friction-fit The cradle may be attached to the handrail via a snap-fit The source of illumination may he coupled to the handrail using an optical adhesive.

The source of illumination may be integral with the hand rail.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a wheelchair lift for a vehicle, wherein the wheelchair lift includes a handrail as described above.

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 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 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 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 an d 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 10A shows a side view of a handrail in a deployed configuration.

Figure 10B shows a view from the inboard side of a handrail in a deployed configuration.

Figure 10C shows a cross-section through the bottom part of a handrail looking longitudinally along the length of the handrail.

Figure 11A shows a left side view of a wheelchair lift, and Figure 1111 shows a left side view of a wheelchair lift with an illuminated handrail.

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 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 arc 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 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 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 bolts 42 and corresponding mounting nuts 52 that are screwed onto the mounting bolts 42.

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 be 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 61 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 arc 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 he 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 handrails may be formed from plastic, and may also include a source of illumination.

Figures 11A-C illustrate a plastic handrail 16 employing a plurality of LEDs 116 as a source of illumination. The use of a polymeric material (i.e. a plastic) provides a number of advantages. Firstly, plastic is lightweight, which reduces the overall weight of the lift. Plastic also does not corrode and does not require painting to protect it from the elements. Plastic can also he formed into virtually any shape, for example by injection moulding or extrusion, which allows the handrail 16 to be made into particularly ergonomic shapes. Plastic is also less thermally conductive than, for example, metal, which makes the handrail 16 more pleasant to grip in cold weather. It is also possible to make plastic in practically any colour, including particularly bright colours that make the handrail 16 more visible, or in certain colours required for regulatory approval.

The plastic from which the handrail 16 illustrated in Figures 10A-C is made is a transparent plastic. Semi-transparent or translucent plastics may alternatively he used.

For example, the handrail may be formed from high strength acrylic. The handrail 16 may be formed from a single sheet or piece of material, with the final shape of the handrail 16 being milled, mechanically cut, laser cut, or otherwise formed from the single sheet or piece of material. Alternatively, the handrail 16 may be formed by other means, such as extrusion or moulding, for example injection moulding.

Regardless of the method by which the handrail 16 is formed, preferably the handrail 16 is formed as a single continuous piece of material. This has the advantage that there are no seams or discontinuities within the handrail 16 itself and light is therefore able to more effectively diffuse throughout the interior or the handrail 16.

The LEDs 116 are arranged along the underside of the handrail 16, specifically along the bottom edge 17 of the handrail 16, and extend along the majority of the length of the bottom edge 17 of the handrail 16. The LEDs 116 are arranged so that they emit light upwards and into the plastic handrail 16. The light permeates through the interior of the handrail 16 and is emitted from the surface of the handrail 16, thereby providing illumination of the handrail 16 itself and the platform assembly 12. The arrangement of the LEDs 116 along the bottom edge 17 of the handrail 16 so that they emit light in an upward direction provides a particularly visible illumination of the handrail 16 because the light is directed towards the user of the lift.

The LEDs 116 are arranged within the channel 117 of a cradle 118 having a U-shaped cross-section, which is attached to the bottom edge 17 of the handrail 16. Specifically, the LEDs are arranged along the bottom of the channel 117 and are arranged to illuminate in an upward direction from the base of the channel 117. The cradle 118 may be attached to the handrail 16 by any means, for example by a friction fit, a snap fit, using fastenings, or using adhesive. The handrail 16 includes a groove or recess 19 formed along its bottom edge 17 arranged to receive the LEDs 116, which improves the coupling of the light from the LEDs 116 into the handrail 16. The recess 19 may extend along substantially the entire length of the bottom edge 17 of the handrail 16 so that the plurality of LEDs 116 are accommodated within the recess 19.

Alternatively, the handrail 16 may include a plurality of recesses formed in its bottom edge 17, each recess being arranged to accommodate one of the plurality of LEDs 116. Optical adhesive may be used to help couple light from the LEDs 116 into the handrail 16. The cradle 118 may be opaque to the light emitted by the LEDs 116. This has the advantage that the individual LEDs 116 are not directly visible from below or from the sides, which softens the overall lighting effect and provides a more even distribution of illumination of the handrail due to the absence of observable bright spots at the locations of each of the LEDs 116.

The cradle 118 and the LEDs 116 may be removed from the handrail 16 and replaced.

This allows for the lighting of the handrail 16 to be customised or altered, depending on the requirements of the user.

Alternatively, the source of illumination may be an integral part of the handrail 16. For example, the LEDs 116 may be embedded within the plastic handrail 16 rather than mounted externally.

To minimise weight while maintaining strength, the handrails 16 comprise upper 21 and lower 23 rails, which are joined together at at least one of their proximal 27 and distal 29 ends, and preferably at both to form a looped structure, as illustrated in Figure 10A. To provide further reinforcement and also to aid the diffusion of light through the interior of the handrail 16, one or more struts 25 may connect the upper 21 and lower 23 rails between their proximal 27 and distal 29 ends. As mentioned above, the handrail 16, is preferably formed from a single continuous piece of material. Therefore, the upper 21 and lower 23 rails and, if present, the struts 25 of the handrail 16 are formed from a single piece of material, which improves diffusion of light through the handrail 16.

The handrails 16 also have a rounded profile to make them more ergonomic and to aid diffusion of light. For example, the handrail 16 may have cambered edges and the various rails and struts from which the handrail 16 is comprised may be rounded in profile. For example, the top edge 31 of the handrail 16 may be cambered. Preferably, the front (inboard) 33 and/or rear (outboard) 35 edges of the handrail 16 may also be cambered. Alternatively, substantially all of the outer edge of the handrail 16, including the front 33, rear 35, top 31, and bottom 17 edges of the handrail 16 may be cambered. Alternatively, or in addition, any inner edges 37 of the handrail 16 may be cambered. The inner edges 37 are those that face towards a void or hole formed in the handrail 16, for example as present between the upper 21and lower 23 rails. Also, to further aid diffusion of light through the handrail 16, any strut 25 that is present may flare to increase in width in one or more dimension as it approaches the upper 21 and/or lower 23 rail. For example, the strut 25 may flare to increase in width in the longitudinal direction of the handrail 16 (i.e. forward-backwards direction when deployed) as it approaches the upper 21 and/or lower 23 rail.

Due to the location of the handrails 16, projecting out from the support arms 14 above and in the direction of the platform assembly 12, the handrails 16 are ideally located to provide useful illumination of the parts of the lift 10 that are encountered by a user, in particular the platform 20, the support arms 14, and the handrails 16 themselves. As illustrated in Figures 11A and 11B, illumination of the handrails 16 provides improved illumination of the lift 10 compared to illumination by lights 120 mounted, for example, on the support arms 14. Furthermore, when a wheelchair and its occupant are accommodated on the platform 20, the handrails 16 are ideally located for providing illumination of the wheelchair and its occupant, as well as the lift 10 itself, extending as they do along both sides of platform 20 and its occupant.

The location of the handrails 16 on either side of the platform also means that the illumination of the handrails 16 provides a clear visual indication of where the platform 20 is located, i.e. between the two illuminated handrails 16. This is particularly useful to those with visual impairment who may otherwise struggle to see the lift 10, or in low light conditions. The illumination of the handrails 16 also makes it easier to see where to grasp the lift 10 for support.

The illumination of the handrails 16 is also particularly useful because during deployment the handrails 16 are moved from the vertical stowed configuration to the horizontal deployed configuration. The handrails 16 therefore represent a hazard during deployment, and illumination of the handrails 16 improves their visibility and thereby improves the safety of the lift 10.

Referring now again to Figures 1A-5C, 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 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 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 arc 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 handrail for a vehicle-mounted wheelchair lift, wherein the handrail includes a source of illumination arranged to illuminate the handrail.
2. A handrail according to claim 1, wherein the handrail is made from a transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material.
3. A handrail according to claim 2, wherein the transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material is a plastic.
4. A handrail according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the source of illumination is arranged to illuminate the interior of the handrail.
5. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination comprises a plurality of LEDs.
6. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination extends along substantially the entire length of the handrail.
7. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination is arranged along the bottom edge of the handrail and wherein the source of illumination is arranged to direct light upwardly into the handrail so as to illuminate the handrail.
8. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the handrail includes a recess to receive the source of illumination.
9. A handrail according to claim 8, wherein the recess extends along the bottom edge of the handrail to form a channel.
10. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination is relcasably attached to the handrail.
11. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination is mounted on a cradle, and wherein the cradle is arranged to attach to the edge of the handrail.
12. A handrail according to claim 11, wherein the cradle is arranged to grip the handrail.
13. A handrail according to claim 12, wherein the cradle is attached to the handrail via a friction-fit
14. A handrail according to claim 12, wherein the cradle attached to the handrail via a snap-fit
15. A handrail according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of illumination is coupled to the handrail using an optical adhesive.
16. A handrail according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the source of illumination is integral with the hand rail.
17. A wheelchair lift for a vehicle, wherein the wheelchair lift comprises a handrail according to any preceding claim.