Joseph O Nester

US Patent:

20060104772, May 18, 2006

Filed:

Sep 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/222018

Inventors:

Ronald Miller - Moon Township PA, US
Joseph Nester - Weirton WV, US

Assignee:

US Airways, Inc. - Arlington VA

International Classification:

B60P 1/00

US Classification:

414537000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a motorized vehicle, such as a wheelchair, between the loading bridge and cargo bin of an aircraft in a timely manner. According to one embodiment of the invention, a metal cage assembly is implemented with a drop down ramp at the front and an adjustable floor that is raised by a lever handle on either side, outside of the frame. The assembly can be attached to an end of aircraft cargo belt loader by a strap that is wrapped around the belt frame and tightened via a ratcheting clamp. The adjustable floor can be raised or lowered at one end to offset the angle of the belt loader when it is raised to an upright position, for example, to reach a galley door of an aircraft. Angling of the adjustable floor can allow the floor to be substantially parallel to the loading bridge or aircraft cargo bin, thereby enabling the easy transfer of a motorized wheelchair to and from various compartments of the aircraft. The present invention can eliminate injuries to employees, prevent damage to the customer's motorized wheelchair and provide prompt service to physically impaired airline customers.