Patent attributes
A wheelchair lift apparatus includes a vertical lift rail attached to a front frame of the wheelchair, a support plate slidably engaged with the lift rail and extending horizontally forward, and an actuator for moving the support plate along the lift rail. The wheelchair lift apparatus enables a person to move from sitting on the ground to sitting on the wheelchair, and vice versa, without using his/her legs and without assistance from another person. With the support plate lowered onto or near the ground, a person can maneuver, without using his/her legs, between sitting on the ground or on the support plate. With the support plate raised to flush with the wheelchair seat, the person can maneuver, without using his/her legs, between sitting on the wheelchair seat or on the support plate. The support plate can be positioned along the lift rail to act as a footrest.
