DEVICE FOR FACILITATING ENTRY AND EXIT TO AND FROM A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEELCHAIR USERS

To facilitate entry and exit of mobility-impaired persons in and out of public transport vehicles, devices with extendable and retractable ramps (16) are used in the door area. After the ramp (16) has been extended, a transverse edge (24) of the same pointing toward the vehicle must be brought to the level of the floor surface (14) of the vehicle. This is referred to as a so-called floor edge adjustment. In known devices of this type, this is realized with relatively complex lever mechanisms (25). These are not only expensive but also prone to malfunction. The invention provides that lifting levers (28) associated with the ramp (16) for bringing about the floor edge adjustment are mounted on slides (26) that are movable by pushers (27), whereby a relative movement of the pushers (27) with respect to the slides (26) causes the lifting levers (28) to pivot upward to bring about the floor edge adjustment. The lever mechanisms (25) designed in this way are simple to realize and reliable.