Appeal No. 2000-1489 Page 7
Application No. 09/188,421
under fixing flanges 17 on base plate 18 and is locked in the
position illustrated by locking assembly 20, which has a
spring-extended manually
retractable tenon 47 that advances behind a stop 49 (see
Figure 6), to keep movable plate 11 under fixing flanges 17
and immovable relative to the vehicle. From the stowed
position (Figure 1), ramp panels or sections 13 and 14 may be
unlatched from vertical pivot assembly 25 via latch 28, and
deployed downwardly, as illustrated in Figure 2, to define a
stepless ramp and thereby allow wheelchair access to the
vehicle. Alternatively, the sections 13,14 can remain fixed
to assembly 25, and movable plate 11 can be released by
retracting tenon 47, whereupon the ramp sections 13 and 14,
aligned vertically and connected as a unit with hinge 19 and
plate 11, can be hinged outwardly away from base plate 18,
around rod 41. Base plate 18 and rod 41 remain permanently in
place fixed at the lower edge of the doorway. Ramp 10 is
swung as a unit outwardly in the direction of arrow 22 to
assume a position outside the vehicle as illustrated in
phantom in Figure 1, opening the doorway for step-in access to
the vehicle.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007