A method of controlling a stairlift, the stairlift including a rail, a chair, and a drive assembly having a drive engine for driving the chair along the rail. The chair is attached to the drive assembly and the chair has an armrest, wherein the armrest is pivotably supported at the chair by a hinge. The hinge allows a rotational movement of the armrest, in particular along a vertical axis. The method includes detecting an angular position of the armrest and controlling at least one functionality of the stairlift, in particular a functionality of the drive assembly, as a function of the detected angular position.

A device, for helping a wheeled vehicle to negotiate an obstacle, includes a stationary framework, a substantially horizontal frame movable between a high position and a low position in which the frame rests on the framework, and an assembly for vertically translating the frame, the assembly is supported by the framework and supports the frame, the drive assembly includes a pair of shears with X-shaped articulated arms, each arm having an end hinged to the frame and an end hinged to the framework, by translation at one end, a drive actuator for driving the frame between the low and high positions. A plate is supported by the frame and, when the frame is in the high position, translatably movable horizontally relative to the frame, so as to come into contact with a vertex of the obstacle, the plate being flush with the neighboring ground when in the low position.

An electric stair lift system for transporting people and/or cargo up and down a flight of stairs includes a pair of parallel rails, a platform that is slidably engaged with the rails, an electric winch with a take-up spool, and pair of straps attached between the slidable platform and the take-up spool of the winch. In a preferred embodiment, the electric stair lift system is portable, so that it may be installed in such a way that it may be easily removed, stored and transported, as desired.

An electric stair lift system for transporting people and/or cargo up and down a flight of stairs includes a pair of parallel rails, a platform that is slidably engaged with the rails, an electric winch with a take-up spool, and pair of straps attached between the slidable platform and the take-up spool of the winch. In a preferred embodiment, the electric stair lift system is portable, so that it may be installed in such a way that it may be easily removed, stored and transported, as desired.

An electric stair lift system for transporting people and/or cargo up and down a flight of stairs includes a pair of parallel rails, a platform that is slidably engaged with the rails, an electric winch with a take-up spool, and pair of straps attached between the slidable platform and the take-up spool of the winch. In a preferred embodiment, the electric stair lift system is portable, so that it may be installed in such a way that it may be easily removed, stored and transported, as desired.

The convertible stairs for wheelchair accessibility combine a tiltable staircase with a vertically movable platform. The tiltable staircase includes rotating stairs which can be angularly adjusted between a stepped configuration and a planar, ramp-like configuration. Proximal ends of first and second staircase frames are pivotally secured to the platform such that selective raising and lowering of the platform causes the tiltable staircase to tilt up and down. When the stairs of the staircase are rotated into the planar, ramp-like configuration, the platform may be fully raised to tilt the staircase upward, creating a horizontal surface for the wheelchair to cross from the platform to an upper floor or level. To exit the upper floor or level, the wheelchair user reverses the process, returning to the platform which is lowered to the lower floor or level, also lowering the staircase. The stairs may then be rotated back to a stepped configuration.

An electric stair lift system for transporting people and/or cargo up and down a flight of stairs includes a pair of parallel rails, a platform that is slidably engaged with the rails, an electric winch with a take-up spool, and pair of straps attached between the slidable platform and the take-up spool of the winch. In a preferred embodiment, the electric stair lift system is portable, so that it may be installed in such a way that it may be easily removed, stored and transported, as desired.

An electric stair lift system for transporting people and/or cargo up and down a flight of stairs includes a pair of parallel rails, a platform that is slidably engaged with the rails, an electric winch with a take-up spool, and pair of straps attached between the slidable platform and the take-up spool of the winch. In a preferred embodiment, the electric stair lift system is portable, so that it may be installed in such a way that it may be easily removed, stored and transported, as desired.

A stair assistance device and a system for assisting individuals with traversing stairways is provided. Each stair assistance device includes a platform. The platform has a first end that is defined opposite of a second end. Each end has an interface. Each interface is designed to secure the end of the platform to one of a pair of lifts. The lifts are designed to vertically displace the platform from a raised position to a lowered position and vice versa. Multiple stair assistance devices may be used to assist an individual with traversing an entire stairway.

A lift system comprises a rail (1) and a carriage assembly (2) comprising a seat (21) or platform (21) for supporting a person to be conveyed along the rail (1), drive means arranged to engage the rail (1) and controllable to drive the carriage assembly (2) along the rail (1), energy storage means arranged to power the drive means, input means operable by a user to provide an input signal indicative of a desired movement of the carriage assembly (2) along the rail (1), and control means arranged to receive the input signal and control the drive means in response to the input signal. The system includes charging means arranged to charge the energy storage means when the carriage assembly (2) is at a first charging position on the rail (1). The control means is arranged to monitor at least one voltage (VI, V2) characteristic of the energy storage means and/or at least one operational characteristic of the stair lift, and generate an alert signal in response to one or more of those characteristics, or a difference between one or more of those characteristics, fulfilling a defined criterion, criteria, condition, or conditions.