Abstract: A safety barrier for a vehicle mounted lift for wheelchairs is normally in an upright blocking position even when the lift platform is at a ground level. The barrier includes upper and lower panels which are hinged together and coupled with a pair of lever arms. A tubular slide coupled with each lever arm cooperates with a rigid link to bias the forward ends of the arms to elevated positions to maintain the barrier in an upright position. When the lever arms are manually lowered, the barrier upper and lower panels fold upon themselves to provide a ramp over which a wheelchair may be rolled for loading onto the lift platform. The arms are supported by the links in cantilevered positions and are connected to the panels for absorbing by deflection of the arms the energy from impacts from the wheelchair against the barrier.

Abstract: A harness for securing within a vehicle a wheelchair in which an occupant is secured by a lap-belt, the harness being attached not to the chair itself but to side buckles movable relative to the chair and/or occupant, the buckles being attached to the ends of the lap belt, to anchor straps tending to pull the buckles downwardly and rearwardly, and holding straps associated with the anchor straps and connected to forward parts of the buckles via parts of the chair frame so as to tension the buckles forwardly in response to decelerating forces applied direct to the chair.