DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for facilitating ingress or egress of passengers from a train and for transporting passenger and luggage around platforms, including wheelchair bound passengers.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Worldwide proportion of elderly people in population is showing an upward trend. As per UN report ‘World Population Ageing, 2013’, population ageing is taking place in nearly all the countries of the world. Ageing is result of increasing life expectancy, and declining fertility. Combination of the two is leading to a relative reduction in proportion of children and an increase in share of people in main working ages and of older persons in the population. The global share of older people (aged 60 years or over) increased from 9.2 per cent in 1990 to 11.7 per cent in 2013 and will continue to grow. It is estimated to reach 21.1 per cent by 2050. In absolute terms, the number of older people in the world is expected to more than double from 841 million in 2013 to more than 2 billion in 2050. Their numberis projected to exceed the number of children for the first time in 2047.
[0004] Presently, about two thirds of the world’s aged live in developing countries. Because their number in less developed regions is growing faster than in more developed regions, the projections show that older population will be increasingly concentrated in the less developed regions of the world. By 2050, nearly 8 in 10 of the world’s aged population will live in the less developed regions.
[0005] Along with age comes a myriad of problems, most prevalent of which include decrease in strength and mobility. An older person cannot lift weights as heavy as a younger person can, neither can he walk at a pace or for such distances as the younger person. This leads to lot of difficulties for an old person in commuting, one major facet of which is boarding and alighting a train. The elderly face problem in such a situation due to vertical level difference between a train footboard (footboard being area at a train door’s entrance that is co-planar with cabin floor, and from footboard elderly can easily access rest of the cabin of the train) and platform. Also, it is difficult for them to carry luggage while commuting on platform and to transfer it to the train.Sometimes the passengers themselves need to be carried around the platform. The passengers facing such problems include thetemporarily and permanently disabled, including those who are wheelchair bound.
[0006] Several devices exist to mitigate above problems. Existing devices for these problems can generally be divided into three categories: a) Personal based devices b) Train based devices and c) Platform based devices.
[0007] Personal based devices serve one to two users at a time and may or may not require assistance to operate. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a ferry cart or golf cart available at railway stations belongs to this category. Itcan serve the elderly and the handicapped. It can be powered and operated by assistance of a trained staff. While such a device can help users to get from one point to another on a station, it cannot allow them to transfer their luggage on to a trainor in boarding or alightingfrom the train.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a wheelchair assistance that is usually available at railway platforms. The wheelchairs are manually operated by staff provided by the railways. The user can sit on the wheelchair and then the staff can push the wheelchair from one place to other thereby transporting the user. However, the wheelchair device can serve only oneuser ata time. Further, it cannot assist inboarding and disembarking a train or in transferring luggage to or from the train.
[0009] FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate various kinds of ramps which belong to category of platform based devices. These require staff assistance to operate. Besides, they need good ergonomic design with light weight and high manoeuvrability to encourage railway staff to use them to provide assistance. Manually deployed ramps may also be used for other highfloor vehicles besides trains.While such devices help users in boarding and alighting a train or a vehicle,they cannot help users manoeuvre their luggage from one point to another, across the railway station.
[0010] FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate various platform based lifts which are another category of platform based devices. These can be pushed around platformand up to train door by railway staff and then hand-cranked or operated by appropriate motors. Similar to manually deployed ramps, these lifts need to be ergonomically designed both from the perspective of the users and its operators. Like the ramps these lifts can be helpful in boarding and disembarkinga train butcannot help users manoeuvre their luggage from one point to another across the station.
[0011] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate train based ramps which belong to category of train based devices. These can be located on trains and require assistance of rail staff to deploy and use. The advantage of trainbased ramps is that they provide accessibility to platform at all stations since they are on the train. Such ramps can be permanently attached to a train or simply stored on it, to be used when required. They have the advantage of being helpful while boarding and disembarking butcannot help users manoeuvre their luggage across the platform before embarking or after disembarking from the train.
[0012] FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 illustrate yet other types of devices that are train based. These are elevator platforms that extend from trains and are normally operated by railway staff. Like platform based lifts these can be used to provide access from train footboard to platform or vice versa and can cater to varying differences in levels of platform and footboard. A wheelchair user can simply be put on such a lift that can then elevate him to the level of train’s footboard when the wheelchair can be rolled off the elevator floor to the footboard. Used in a reverse fashion, the lift can be elevated to be aligned with train footboard, user’s wheelchair can be rolled on to it, elevator can then descend to platform level and wheelchair can be rolled off the elevator floor to that of platform. The space requirements for such lifts are usually less than train based ramps. Further, in emergency conditions such train based mechanical lifts can be used to evacuate wheelchair users even onto areas without platforms. However, these require an energy source and two devices (one on each side of the vehicle) must be provided since many platforms have two sides a train can come on. Further, such devices cannot help users manoeuvre their luggage from one point to another, across the station.
[0013] Train based deployable steps, as illustrated in FIG. 15 are another type of train based devices to facilitate passenger ingress or egressto/from trains. As these devices are installed on trains, they can provide accessibility to railway platformfrom the trains atall stations. They can also cater to the variable vertical level difference between platform and train footboard and take minimum space even in the retracted position as they can be stored inside a compartment below the footboard and the present railway compartment staircase need not be removed to fit the system. However, these devices bring installed on the traincannothelp users manoeuvre their luggage from one point to another across the station.
[0014] Further, all train based devices present a potential hazard if they are not safely and properly retracted and stored due any reason such as mechanical or power failure before the train starts moving.
[0015] As can be seen, conventional devices have complicated mechanisms, could be expensive and may need external power sources and/or trained service staff. Train based devices can be of use only on that train, while platform based devices are generally heavy and expensive. Both such types may need external power source as well as qualified manpower to operate. Platform based devices are usually made according to the vertical level difference between train footboard and platform. Hence such devices are specific to a platform as these parameters may vary from one platform to another. Besides, none of the devices can fulfil the requirements of providing assistance to a passenger/user in transporting his luggage across the station before or after embarking/disembarking from the train and as well help him in comfortable and safe ingress to and egress from the train.
[0016] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a simple, economical and easy to operate device that can enable a passenger/ user to transport himself and his luggage across the station as wellas help him in embarking/disembarking to/from the train along with his luggage. The device should be usable for all trains coming onto a station, such as those having different vertical level difference/horizontal gap between train footboard and platform. The device should be easily usable by the elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passengers and facilitate them in transporting themselves and their luggage across a platform ( or from one platform to another ) station as well as help them in embarking/disembarking from trains along with their luggage.
[0017] In some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
[0018] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0019] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0020] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Marcus groups used in the appended claims.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A general objective of the disclosure is to provide transportation aid to vulnerable section of passengers such as elderly and sick people.
[0022] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a transportation aid that enables transportation of luggage from a lower level to a higher level and vice-versa.
[0023] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a transportation aid that also helps vulnerable section of passengers to move from a lower level to a higher level and vice-versa.
[0024] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a transportation aid that enables transportation of luggage from one place to other..
[0025] Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a transportation aid that is simple, cheap and easy to operate.

SUMMARY
[0026] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a device to facilitate easy movement of passenger and luggage to help vulnerable section of passengers such as elderly and sick people.
[0027] In an aspect, the device to help transportation of luggage and personnel can comprise:a support frame having wheels to enable movement of the support frame from one place to another place, the support frame having a front end and a rear end;a generally horizontally positioned platform having a front side that is positioned towards front end of the support frame, and a rear side that is positioned towards rear end of the support frame, the front side of the platform pivotally fixed to the support frame such that the front side is free to move up and down; anda locking means to hold the frond side of the platform in any of a plurality of positions to enable the platform to work as a ramp. In an aspect, the platform working as a ramp enables a passenger with luggage, to board or disembark a train compartment that is at higher level than railway platform.
[0028] In an embodiment, locking means can be a pair of pins comprising a pin on either side of the front side of the platform, and slots on either side of the support frame; wherein the pins protrude out of the platform to engage with the slots.
[0029] In an embodiment, each of the slots on either side of the support frame incorporates an arc shaped slot positioned in a generally vertical orientation,each of the arc shaped slots having a plurality of radially placed branchesat about 90 degrees to the arc shaped slot. Further, the pins are configured for longitudinal movement for engagement with an appropriate radially placed branch to hold the platform in a desired position.
[0030] In an embodiment, platform can incorporate a handle to facilitate up and down movement of the front side of the platform.
[0031] In an embodiment, the disclosed device can further incorporate a slide-out ramp positioned underneath platform, and configured for sliding out towards front side as well as towards the rear side of the platform and thereby form an extension of the platform.
[0032] In an embodiment, slide-out ramp can be configured to allow its rear side end to rest on ground after it slides out towards rear side of the platform, thereby providing a continuous pathway combining the slide-out ramp and the platform.
[0033] In an embodiment, the disclosed device can further incorporate support railings on both sides along the direction from the rear side to the front side.
[0034] In an embodiment, the disclosed device can further incorporate a hinged gate affixed to the support frame on the front side end of the device.
[0035] In an embodiment, hinged gateaffixed to the support frame on the front side end can be configured so as not to interfere with raising / lowering of the front side of the platform, or with sliding in/out of the slide-in ramp.
[0036] In an embodiment, up and down movement of the front side of the platform can be motorised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 1 to FIG. 15 illustratevarious kinds of conventional devices to facilitate passenger ingress and egress that have been elaborated in background section.
[0039] FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary front perspective view of device for ingress and egress to/from trainsin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure so as to visualize most of its parts.
[0040] FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary back view of the devicefor ingress and egress to/from trains in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 18 illustratesan exemplary side view of the device for ingress and egress to/from trainsin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure in order to understand height adjustment mechanism of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0043] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0044] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[0045] The disclosed invention relates to devices for facilitating ingress or egress of passengers and their luggage from a train. More particularly, it relates to a device that facilitates a passenger in transporting himself and/or his luggage to a train standing on a railway platform.Likewise it also helps him in disembarking along with his luggage from the train to platform, and during movement ofhis luggage across platform (as well as places nearby if the paths are so configured, for example a nearby parking lot).
[0046] In an aspect, device disclosed can facilitateelderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passengers in transporting themselves and their luggage across a platform or from one platform to another station as well as can help them in embarking/disembarking from trains along with their luggage.
[0047] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used for all trains coming onto a station irrespective of vertical level difference between train footboard and platform and horizontal gap between the two which could be different for different trains. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed device can cater to a vertical level difference between train footboard and platform that varies upto 150mm (in view of the level difference being anything between 300 mm to 450 mm) by allowing a manual angular adjustment from9° to 15° of one of its ramp (hereinafter referred to as boarding ramp) through a simple mechanism as elaborated hereunder. Thus the disclosed device can be suitable for a plurality of platforms and trains in different combinations. In yet another exemplary embodiment, if required, the disclosed device can have its boarding ramp fixed so as to cater to a fixed vertical level difference between the train footboard and platformand thus can be suitable for a particular combination of train and platform only.
[0048] The disclosed device in particular can be of great help for passengers/usersincluding but not limited to, the elderlypassengers, temporarily disabled passengers, wheelchair bound passengers, pregnant women passengers, those passengers who cannot lift heavy loads and other similarly placed passengers including able bodied passengers.
[0049] In an embodiment, the disclosed device can convert to a ramp allowing the passengers to walk on it and board and alight from a train. It can cater to differentvertical level difference between a train’s footboard and platform through angular variation elaborated herein. In an exemplary embodiment,it can be powered to provide assistance in movingit across the station platform and also while ascending/descending an inclined plane (such as a ramp for differentlyabled persons provided at most railway platforms).
[0050] The disclosed device can be better understood and will be described with reference to drawings as under wherein FIG. 16, 17 and 18illustrate different exemplary views 1600, 1700 and 1800 respectivelyof the device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. View 1600 of the device shows most of its parts and can as shown have a support frame 1 (also referred to simply as frame and the two terms used interchangeably hereinafter) that can support a generally horizontally oriented platform3 (interchangeably termed as boarding ramp or simply as ramp)that can be adjusted according to varying height difference between platformand train footboard of atrain as elaborated hereunder and illustrated in FIG. 16 and FIG. 18.
[0051] In an aspect, one end i.e. rear sideof the platform/ramp3 can be pivotally fixed to the support frame 1 with help of pivot pins 8, one each on its left and right sides on its pivoted side; and the other end i.e. frontsidecan move up and down resulting in change in angle of the platform/ramp 3.Thefront side/end of the ramp 3 can incorporatelocking means to hold the front side/end of the platform/ramp 3 in any of a plurality of positions as the front end/side is moved up and down.
[0052] In an embodiment, locking means to hold the front side/end of the platform/ramp 3 in any of a plurality of positionscan be a pair of pins 6 that protrude out of the side edges of the ramp 3, and slots in the frame 1 that are configured such that the pair of pins engage in the slots to hold the front side/end of the platform/ramp 3 in any of the plurality of positions defined by the slots..
[0053] In an embodiment, the protruding pins 6 can be configured to move in anarc shaped slots 7 (one on either side) positioned in a generally vertical orientation in the support frame 1. Thus, thepins 6 remain within the slots 7 as the front end/side of the platform/ramp 3 is moved up and down for changing the ramp angle, and consequently the pins 6a and 6b and the slots 7 restrict the movement of the ramp 3 within a predetermined angular travel. In an embodiment the front side/end of the ramp 3 can be raised up or lowered down to bring it at same level as that of the footboard of the train after the device has been placed next to exit/entry door of the train compartment with its front end facing the door of the train. Thus the ramp 3 of the device can help passengers to ingress/egress to/from the train with their luggage.
[0054] In an embodiment, the pins 6 can also help in keeping the platform/ramp 3 in a fixed ramp angle depending on level difference between the footboard of the train and the railway platform. For this the pins 6 can be configured for movement along longitudinal direction of the ramp and the slot 7 can incorporate a plurality of radially placed branches at approximately 90 degrees to the vertical slot 7. Thus the pins 6 can be longitudinally moved to engage with an appropriate radial slot to make the ramp 3 fixed in a particular ramp angle. Conversely when the ramp angle is to be changed the pins 6 can be moved out of the radial slots to make the ramp 3 free for up/down movement for changing its angle.
[0055] In an embodiment, the ramp 3 can incorporate a handle 11 at a suitable place on its front end to help adjust its height. Using handle 11, a user can pivotally move the ramp 3 to adjust its angle.Once the front end of the ramp 3 aligns with footboardof cabin of a train that a passenger wishes to board, pins 6a and 6b can be slid into nearest radial slots 7 so as to hold ramp 3 in that position.
[0056] In an aspect, the disclosed device can incorporate a second ramp - ramp 2 (referred to as slide-out ramp 2 hereinafter) that can slide on slider links 18A and 18B (as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) in such a fashion that ramp 2 can be slid in a direction along the front end/side and the rear end/sideof the ramp 3. In normal position, theslide-out ramp 2 can be positioned underneath the platform/ramp 3, but slide out towards the rear end of the ramp 3 to project out and form its extension.
[0057] In another aspect, slider links 18A and 18B can be configured with hinges in such a fashion that the slide-out ramp 2, after it has completely slid out, can rest on ground along its rear endwhile its front endis aligned next to the pivoted end/sidei.e. rear end/sideof ramp 3, thereby making a continuous pathway combining the slide-out ramp 2 and ramp 3 wherein rear end of slide-out ramp 2 rests on the platform while the front end of the ramp 3 can be aligned with footboard of a train as elaborated above. In an aspect, any other mechanism besides the slider linksand hinges that can enable ramp 2 to completely slide out and its rear end to rest on the platform while its other endis aligned next to the pivoted side of ramp 3, thereby making a continuous pathway combining ramp 2 and ramp 3, can be used and is within scope of the present disclosure.
[0058] In an aspect, frame 1 can be built of hollow but strong tubular sections with support railings 16 and 17, of which support railing 16 can be shorter in length as compared to support railing 17. The support railings can have handle grips 15 installed towards one end where the user is supposed to take a support while using the device.
[0059] In another aspect, the disclosed device can have a hinged gate 5 affixed via support bars on frame 1. Gate 5 can be positioned above pivot pins 8 so as not to interfere with raising / lowering of ramp 3 or sliding in/out of ramp 2. Gate 5 can be hinged on one side (preferably that of the longer support railing 17) so that it can be opened easily.
[0060] In anaspect, a ribbed mat 9 (that can be made of hard rubber) can be installed on ramp 3 to provide a walking grip. In another aspect, ribbed mat 9 can have bumpers 10 on its surface that can hold luggage from sliding back once ramp 3 is in an inclined position. In an exemplary embodiment, four rubber bumpers 10 can be installed on ribbed mat 9.
[0061] In an embodiment, the disclosed device can run on four wheels. Two castor wheels 12 can be fixed to frame 1 in front to enable the device to be navigated as required and two pneumatic wheels 13 can be affixed at rear end of the frame 1. In another embodiment,pneumaticwheels 13 can be driven by motor 20 (as showing in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) that can be driven by a rechargeable battery 19 (as shown in FIG. 17). Both motor 20 and battery 19 can be mounted on underside of frame 1 as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18.
[0062] In an aspect, to board a train, a passenger can put his/her luggage on the disclosed device. For the purpose he can swing open gate 5 by pulling it towards himself. Next he can slide ramp 2 fully out of frame 1 (using slider links 18A and 18B and hinges therein) so that its one end rests on the platform while other end is aligned with the pivoted endof ramp 3. Next he can keep his luggage on ramp 2 and easily push it on ramp 3.
[0063] Ribbed mat 9 and bumpers 10 on ramp 3 can hold the luggage in its position on ramp 3. After putting hisluggage on the ramp 3, user / passenger can pull up ramp 2 and slide it back in the frame 1 of the device. Next, he can close gate 5. Now the device can be easily pushed on its wheels towards the platform where train that passenger has to board will come or has already arrived. In case of a motorised device, it can be easier for passenger to move it.
[0064] In an aspect, device disclosed can facilitate an elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passenger in transporting himself/herself and his/her luggage on a platform or from one platform to another, prior to boarding a train, as elaborated hereunder.
[0065] For this purpose, the elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passengers can operate the device as elaborated above and can pushtheir luggage from platform to ramp 2 and then on to ramp 3. An elderly passenger can then position himself as well on ramp 3 by walking on ramp 2 and then onto ramp 3. A temporarily disabled passenger can likewise transport himself and his luggage on ramp 3, or take help of a wheelchair depending upon extent of his disability. A wheelchair bound passengercan transport his luggage to ramp 3 and can roll his wheelchair (with himself in it)from platform to ramp 2 and then on to ramp 3 and so position himself (in his wheelchair)and his luggage on ramp 3. The elderly/ temporarily disabled/wheelchair bound passenger can now operate the device disclosed using motor 20 provided and thereby transport himself and his luggage on the platform ( or from one platform to another ) and place it close to footboard of cabin he wishes to board.Assistance of railway staff (also termed as operator herein) can be taken for pulling out ramp 2 and sliding it back in, if required. In another aspect, sliding in and out of ramp 2 also can be automated by motors so that the passenger may not need assistance for this as well.
[0066] In another aspect, once user/ passenger reaches destination platform with his luggage placed on ramp 3 of the device, he can firstly raise the front end of the ramp 3 as elaborated above to a height according to footboard of cabin he wishes to board. Next, the device can be moved by him such that the front end of (now inclined) ramp 3 aligns next to footboard of the cabin.
[0067] In an aspect, after ramp 3 is so aligned, passenger can access the luggage placed on the ramp 3 from side of the shorter support railing 16 and transfer it to the train by dragging it on ramp 3 till it is transferred to the footboard and hence on to the train. In another embodiment, user/ passenger can slide ramp 2 fully out of frame 1 (using slider links 18A and 18B and hinges therein) so that its one end rests on the ground while other end is aligned with the pivoted endof ramp 3, open hinged gate 5 and walk on ramps 2 and 3 while pushing luggage towards frontto transfer the luggage to the footboard of the cabin. In case user wishes to board the train using the device, he can easily do it by walking on ramps 2 and 3 after they are fully deployed as above and walk from platform to the footboard. All such transfers are easily possible since the front end of ramp 3 is already aligned with footboard of the cabin.
[0068] In another aspect, after transferring his luggage and/or boarding the train, user can leave the device on platform itself for use by other people. Once train has departed from the station, railway staff can bring the device to its designated parking place.
[0069] In an aspect, the device can facilitate an elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passenger in embarking (ingress to) a train, as elaborated hereunder.
[0070] As already elaborated above, using device disclosed, an elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passenger can transport himself and his luggage to the destination platform and place it close to footboard of cabin he wishes to board. Ramp 3 can carry both passenger and his luggage and, in case of a wheelchair bound passenger, passenger can be on ramp 3 in his wheelchair, with his luggage also on ramp 3.Once the device is so positioned, railway staff/ operator can align front end of ramp 3 with the footboard of the cabin. An elderly passenger can easily walk from ramp 3 to the footboard as well as push his luggage from ramp 3 to the footboard. A temporarily disabled passenger can also do so, or take help of a wheelchair depending upon extent of his disability. Likewise, a wheelchair bound passenger can easily roll his wheelchair (with him on it) and his luggage from ramp 3 onto the footboard. Assistance of operator may be taken if required. If required for safety reasons, the passenger may disembark for awhile from the device disclosed while operator aligns front end of ramp 3 with footboard of the cabin. In another aspect, raising of ramp 3 to align it with the footboard and lowering it to platform level when required can be automated by motors so that the passenger may not need assistance for this as well.
[0071] In another aspect, in case where a passenger wants to egress / alight from the train at a railway platform using the device, the railway staff can be informed beforehand using proper communication channels and be ready with the device in front of cabin door from where passenger has to alight. Ramp 2 can be fully slid out of frame 1 (using slider links 18A and 18B and hinges therein) so that its rear end rests on the platform while front end is aligned with the pivoted endof the ramp 3, front end of the ramp 3 can be aligned with footboard of cabin as elaborated above and hinged gate 5 opened. Passenger can easily transfer his luggage from footboard on to ramp 3 where it can be held by ribbed mat 9 and bumpers 10. Passenger can move from footboard to ramp 3, then ramp 2 and finally to platform.Then he can slide ramp 2 into frame 1 of the device and close hinged gate 5, his luggage resting on ramp3. Now the device can be moved on platformto take the luggage to any place.After reaching the destination spot gate 5 can be opened, ramp 2 fully slid out so that its rear end rests on the platform while other is aligned with the pivoted endof ramp 3 and luggage on ramp 3 can be transferred to ramp 2 and finally to platform.
[0072] In an aspect, the device can facilitate an elderly, temporarily disabled or wheelchair bound passenger in disembarking (egress from) a train, as elaborated hereunder.
[0073] For this purpose, as elaborated above railway staff/operator can be informed beforehand and position the device disclosed as elaborated above, with ramp 3 raised to level of the footboard the passenger is to disembark from. An elderly passenger can transport himself and his luggage from footboard of cabin he is egressing on to ramp 3. A temporarily disabled passenger can likewise transport himself and his luggage on ramp 3, or take help of a wheelchair depending upon extent of his disability. A wheelchair bound passenger can likewise transport his luggage to ramp 3 and can roll his wheelchair (with himself in it) on to ramp 3. Ramp 3 can next be lowered to a position close to platform level.The elderly/ temporarily disabled/wheelchair bound passenger can now operate the device disclosed using motor 20 provided and thereby transport himself and his luggage on the platform (or from one platform to another ). When he wants to disembark from the device, ramp 2 can be fully slid out of frame 1 (using slider links 18A and 18B and hinges therein) so that its rear end rests on the platform while front end is aligned with the pivoted end of the ramp 3 and hinged gate 5 opened. The passenger can now easily transfer his luggage from ramp 3 to ramp 2 and finally on to the platform. Likewise, he can walk from ramp 3 onto ramp 2 and then finally on to the platform. A wheelchair bound passenger can roll his wheelchair with himself on it from ramp 3 to ramp 2 and finally on to the platform. Assistance of operator can be taken for pulling out ramp 2 and sliding it back in, if required. In another aspect, sliding in and out of ramp 2 can be automated by motors so that the passenger may not need assistance for this as well.Raising of ramp 3 to align it with the footboard and lowering it to platform level when required can be automated by motors so that the passenger may not need assistance for this as well.
[0074] In all operations as above, the device can as well be operated by railway staff or operator at platform who can also assist passengers as required. Since the device is very simple to operate, staff as well as any user can very quickly learn how to operate it.
[0075] In an aspect, the device can be configured to take care of horizontal gap if any that may exist between platform and footboard. For the purpose, frame 1 and slots 7 and pins 6 can be so configured that an appropriate length of ramp 3 protrudes out of frame 1. Ramp 3 can be raised as elaborated above and thenthe device can be so aligned using its wheels that horizontal gap if any between the platform and the footboard is covered.
[0076] While the device has been explained with reference to its use for boarding and alighting trains, it can be readily understood that similar methods and structures can be used in any situation where a vertical height difference exists between footboard of a vehicle and ground level and hence all such variations and embodiments are within scope of invention disclosed.
[0077] While the disclosed device has been explained using primarily manual operations, it can be understood that any/all operations of the disclosed device can be performed using suitably configured motorised devices. For example, front end of the ramp 3 (boarding ramp) can be raised, held at a height and lowered using motorised mechanisms. Similarly, ramp 2 (slide-out ramp) can be slid out and into frame 1 using motorised mechanisms. Ramp 2 can be configured with hinged gate 5 in such a fashion that it automatically slides out when gate 5 is opened and slides in when gate 5 is closed (or vice-versa). All such embodiments and their variations are within scope of the present disclosure.
[0078] In yet another aspect, in many situations ramp 2 may not be needed at all and the disclosed device can be configured/ deployed only with ramp 3. For example a porter may assist a user by keeping his luggage directly on ramp 3; user can transport the device near footboard of the cabin he wishes to board and align front end of the ramp 3 with the footboard. Next, he can step directly on ramp 3 and push his luggage to the footboard as well as transport himself to the footboard. All such embodiments and their variations are within scope of invention disclosed.
[0079] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0080] The disclosure provides a transportation aid to vulnerable section of passengers such as elderly and sick people.
[0081] The disclosure provides a transportation aid that enables transportation of luggage from a lower level to a higher level and vice-versa.
[0082] The disclosure provides a transportation aid that also helps vulnerable section of passengers to move from a lower level to a higher level and vice-versa.
[0083] The disclosure provides a transportation aid that enables transportation of luggage from one place to other.
[0084] The disclosure provides a transportation aid that is simple, cheap and easy to operate.
,CLAIMS:
1. A device to help transportation of luggage and personnel, the device comprising:
a support frame having wheels to enable movement of the support frame from one place to another place;
a generally horizontally positioned platform having a front side and a rear side, the front side of the platform pivotally fixed to the support frame such that the front side is free to move up and down; and
a locking means to hold the frond side of the platform in any of a plurality of positions to enable the platform to work as a ramp;

wherein the platform working as a ramp enables a passenger with luggage, to board or disembark a train compartment that is at higher level than railway platform.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means is a pair of pins comprising a pin on either side of the front side of the platform and slots on either side of the support frame; wherein the pins protrude out of the platform to engage with the slots.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the slots on either side of the support frame incorporates an arc shaped slots positioned in a generally vertical orientation with each of the arc shaped slots having a plurality of radially placed branchesat about 90 degrees to the arc shaped slot; and wherein the pins are configured for longitudinal movement for engagement with an appropriate radially placed branch to hold the platform in a desired position.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform incorporates a handle to facilitate up and down movement of the front side of the platform.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further incorporates a slide-out ramp positioned underneath the platform, and configured for sliding out towards front side as well as towards the rear side of the platform and form an extension of the platform.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide-out rampis configured to allow its rear side end to rest on ground after it slides out towards rear side of the platform, thereby providing a continuous pathway combining the slide-out ramp and the platform.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further incorporates support railings on both sides along the direction from the rear side to the front side.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further incorporates a hinged gate affixed to the support frame on the front side end of the device.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hinged gateaffixed to the support frame on the front side end is configured so as not to interfere with raising / lowering of the front side of the platform, or with sliding in/out of the slide-in ramp.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein up and down movement of the front side of the platform is motorised.