US 11,752,051 B2
Vehicle lift for mobility device
Daniel Patrick Toolan, North Port, FL (US); Derek James Nash, Bradenton, FL (US); and David Russel Baxter, Sarasota, FL (US)
Assigned to Harmar Mobility, LLC, Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed by Harmar Mobility, LLC, Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/76,417.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117805 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61G 3/02 (2006.01); B60R 9/06 (2006.01); B60P 1/44 (2006.01); B60P 3/07 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 3/0209 (2013.01) [B60P 1/4421 (2013.01); B60P 3/07 (2013.01); B60R 9/06 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle lift comprising:
a lift base configured to be mounted in a cargo area of a vehicle;
a lift tower movable with respect to the lift base;
a platform movable with respect to the lift tower;
a first rail assembly fixed to the lift base and the lift tower and configured to move the lift tower horizontally with respect to the lift base, the first rail assembly comprising
a first pair of outer extruded rails secured to the lift base;
a first pair of central extruded rails movable with respect to the first pair of outer extruded rails; and
a first pair of inner extruded rails movable with respect to the first pair of central extruded rails and fixed to the lift tower,
wherein the first pair of outer extruded rails and the first pair of inner extruded rails comprise
a first portion having a substantially rectangular box shape including a first side wall, an opposed second side wall, and a pair of opposed end walls; and
a second portion having a substantially trapezoid shape, wherein the first side wall of the first portion defines a base wall of the second portion,
wherein the first pair of central extruded rails are substantially I-shaped and include a first flange portion, an opposed second flange portion, and a web portion extending between the first flange portion and the second flange portion,
wherein the second portion of each outer extruded rail and each inner extruded rail is nested within the first flange portions, the opposed second flange portion, and the web portion of one of the central extruded rails; and
a plurality of bearings, each bearing comprising a sheet wrapping around one of the second portions, the bearings forming the sole contact between the second portions and the central extruded rails.