A mechanically-based arrangement for locking a stairlift chair relative to a stairlift carriage in the event of a failure within the drive that is provided to maintain the chair level as the stairlift is in operation. The arrangement uses inter-engaging components that are engaged and dis-engaged in timed relationship to rotation of the levelling motor. At all times at least one set of inter-engaging components are engaged.

A stair lift eliminates a hindrance to the normal use of a staircase. The stair lift comprises two rails disposed along the staircase in parallel to the width of the staircase, a self-propelled gantry-shape carriage having a gantry-shaped structure, traveling on the rails with a restriction to prevent a derailment, and a lift step (1) disposed between left and right leg structures of the gantry-shape carriage and supported by a lifting mechanism provided in the leg structure. When the gantry-shape carriage stands by at a lower floor or a upper floor of the staircase, the lift step (1) lands on the floor adjacent to the staircase or a step of the staircase, and when the gantry-shape carriage travels on the rails, the lift step is held at a position preventing an interference with steps of the staircase. A user gets on the lift step (1) while standing.

A stair lift eliminates a hindrance to the normal use of a staircase. The stair lift comprises two rails disposed along the staircase in parallel to the width of the staircase, a self-propelled gantry-shape carriage having a gantry-shaped structure, traveling on the rails with a restriction to prevent a derailment, and a lift step (1) disposed between left and right leg structures of the gantry-shape carriage and supported by a lifting mechanism provided in the leg structure. When the gantry-shape carriage stands by at a lower floor or a upper floor of the staircase, the lift step (1) lands on the floor adjacent to the staircase or a step of the staircase, and when the gantry-shape carriage travels on the rails, the lift step is held at a position preventing an interference with steps of the staircase. A user gets on the lift step (1) while standing.

A stairlift for moving along a staircase having: a curved rail having a centre line, a load bearing surface, and a carriage including a first and a second guiding unit connected to each other by a connecting unit. The second guiding unit is connected to the connecting unit via a third rotation joint about a third axis and a fourth joint about a fourth axis, the connection unit includes a fifth rotation joint about a fifth axis. The fifth axis extending from outside the rail to an area close to or on the centre line of the rail in a first plane close to or on the third and the fourth axis.

A rack for a stairway guide suitable for providing good grip in curves comprises a bendable strip body, said bendable strip body comprising a first main side and a second main side, the first main side being provided with a series of equidistant engagement elements, each element being chosen from i) a hole, and ii) a protrusion. Both longitudinal sides are provided with a series of indentations. Being bendable, a stairway guide can be manufactured easily by bending the rack in the desired shape defined by the stairway guide.

A stairlift for conveying a load along a staircase includes a stairlift guide (stairlift rail), a carriage carried by the stairlift guide and moveable along the stairlift guide, the carriage comprising a carriage drive to drive the carriage along the stairlift guide. A stairlift carriage with reduced energy consumption comprises a body of revolution mounted hingably about a first axis to a frame of the stairlift carriage, while being able to rotate about an axis of rotation at a distance from said first axis.

A carriage (1) for a stairlift is configured for sliding along a support guide (2). The carriage (1) comprises a concave shaped frame (101), defining a seat (S) for housing at least a part of said guide (2); at least one upper roller (102), mounted on an upper portion of said frame (101) to be rotatably engageable resting on an upper surface of a head portion (201) of the guide (2); a rolling member (103), mounted on a lower portion of the frame (101) to be rotatably engageable with a lower surface of a base portion (203) of the guide (2); and first and second lower rollers (104a, 104b), mounted on the frame (101) in the proximity of the rolling member (103) in such a way as to be engaged or can be engaged in rolling movement respectively on a first lateral surface (203a) and a second lateral surface (203b) of the base portion (203) of the guide (2).

A stairlift with an elongated rail includes a first side running surface and a second side running surface; and a carriage movable along the rail. The carriage having a first roller including a first roller friction surface which is in frictional engagement with the first side running surface for guiding the first roller; and a second roller including a second roller friction surface which is in frictional engagement with the second side running surface for guiding the second roller; and a first bridge. The first roller being rotatable around a first axis at a first end of the first bridge and the second roller is being rotatable around a second axis at a second end of the first bridge.

A luggage loading and unloading apparatus for a vehicle may include an in-wheel motor roller rotating a wheel by driving force of a motor, a slider coupled to a plate for loading luggage, and a link, one side of which is coupled to the in-wheel motor roller while the other side of the link is coupled to the slider, wherein the in-wheel motor roller is driven together with the slider, lifting and dropping the plate.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a stairlift (10). The speed of rotation of the carriage (12), whilst traversing bends in the rail (11), is monitored and the speed of the carriage drive motor (13) then controlled in reaction to the speed of rotation. A 3-axis gyroscope (31) is preferably used to monitor the speeds of rotation of the carriage (12) and the outputs from this gyroscope (31) may be processed to provide different degrees of speed control.