Low floor vehicle ramp assembly

Abstract

A ramp assembly ( 20 ) for mounting in a low floor bus ( 22 ) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly ( 20 ) includes a rectangular enclosure ( 24 ) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus ( 22 ). The ramp assembly ( 20 ) includes a reciprocating mechanism ( 26 ) for moving a ramp platform ( 28 ) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism ( 26 ) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform ( 28 ) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus ( 22 ).

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A ramp assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame for mounting below a floor of the vehicle;    a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends, the ramp platform selectively extensible between a stowed position in which the ramp platform is stowed substantially along a plane, and a deployed position in which the forward end of the ramp platform extends downward toward the ground, the ramp platform being of sufficient width to support a wheelchair thereon and comprising a corrugated sandwich structure, the corrugated sandwich structure comprising a corrugated sheet sandwiched between inner and outer sheets.    
     
     
         2 . The ramp platform of    claim 1   , wherein the corrugated sheet is arranged such that corrugations on the corrugated sheet extend substantially parallel to the ground when the ramp is in the deployed position.