A platform for getting a disabled person, wheelchair, or fixed-frame scooter into a car

Around a billion people in the world have some form of disability. That’s about 15% of the world’s population. There are also many temporary invalids as a result of illness, injury or old age. Disabled people have significantly limited opportunities for a normal life, primarily due to reduced mobility. Wheelchairs can be used to move around the house, yard, or workplace. With the help of a scooter, they can go to nearby shops, but they often need cars to go to further shops, at the doctor ambulances and the like. The biggest problem is getting in and out of the car. All this makes the life of the disabled more difficult and more expensive. Due to the impossibility of moving independently for a long time, many go to nursing homes, although they can still take care of themselves within the apartment or house. Solving the problem of independent transport of the disabled would significantly reduce the costs of caring for them. Billions could be saved just by reducing the cost of care in nursing homes.

By solving the problem of getting into a car, many people with physical, sensory, and cognitive difficulties would get a significant increase in quality of life and the opportunity to take care of themselves. It is difficult for them to get in and out of the car, as they have to put their wheelchairs in the trunk, and only then get into the vehicle and sit in the driver's or front passenger's position. Many can only do this with the help of another person who puts the wheelchair in the trunk, and when they go out, the wheelchair is taken out of the trunk. If a disabled person drives a car alone, he often has to get out of the vehicle for a short time to open the ramp, go to the store and the like.

This problem with inserting wheelchairs, or small scooters with a fixed frame in place of the driver or co-driver can be easily solved by installing a small platform for lifting wheelchairs, or scooters.

This platform has multiple parts.

A strong axle (1) is placed in the car next to the middle side pillar of the car, which is attached to the bottom of the car at the bottom, and the upper part is attached to the side pillar of the car. A bracket (2) is placed on this shaft, which can be rotated 90 degrees freely around the shaft (1), and this bracket (2) holds the bracket screw (3) with its outer part. This is best seen in Fig.4.

This bracket screw (3) can be rotated from left to right and is rotated by a small electric motor (6). A strong nut (5) is placed on this bracket screw (3) which is welded to the side of the bearing plate (4). This support plate (4) is made in the shape of the letter L, and wheelchairs are placed on it when entering or leaving the car. This is also best seen in Fig.4.

When the driver wants to get out of the car, he is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to get out of the car, he must first raise the bearing plate(4) from the bottom of the car to a level above the side sill of the car. This is done by turning on the electric motor (6) which rotates the bracket bolt (3). By turning this bracket screw (3), the nut (5) located on the side of the bearing plate (4) is lifted upwards. This also raises the wheelchair on the bearing plate (4). In this way, the disabled person in a wheelchair also rises upwards. When the bearing plate (4) rises to the level of the side sill of the car, the disabled person opens the car door and pushes outwards with his hands. In this way, the holder (2) is rotated 90 degrees outwards. Thus, the bolt of the carrier (3) together with the bearing plate (4) is thrown out of the car, which is shown in Fig.2. By further pushing, the disabled person rotates the bearing plate (4) around the support bolt (3) by a further 90 degrees. Thus, the bearing plate (4) is placed next to the entire width next to the car, and the wheelchair user is facing the rear of the car. The disabled person then switches on the electric motor (6) again, whereby the bolt of the carrier (3) turns again, but this time in a different direction, and thus the nut (5) on the bearing plate (4) is lowered together with the wheelchair. When the support plate (4) is lowered to the ground, the disabled person starts his wheelchair or scooter, and gets off the bearing plate (4). This position is seen in FIG.

When the disabled person gets off the bearing plate (4), he turns on the electric motor (6) again, which raises the bearing plate (4) to the level above the side sill of the car. When he picks it up, he pushes it into the car with his hand and closes the car door.

When he has to get into a car a disabled person does everything the other way around.

First, open the car door, and pull out the bearing plate (4). With the electric motor (6), the bearing plate (4) is lowered to the ground, and the back of the wheelchair is placed on the bearing plate (4). Then, by turning on the electric motor (6), it rises above the side sill of the car, and with its hands it is pulled into the car in the driving position. When placed in the driver's position by an electric motor, the bearing plate (4) together with the wheelchair is lowered to the bottom of the car.

And thus it is ready to drive a car on all roads for an indefinite length.

Such a platform can be installed in any car where the door is wide and high enough for a wheelchair to pass through it without getting stuck to the front pillar on which the car door is located.

Other of my technical analyzes and innovations can be found in this book.