
Adaptations to a folding electric wheelchair
The client contacted REMAP as they and their family wanted to go away on holiday, but were unable to fly with the client’s usual wheelchair. The family had purchased a folding electric wheelchair, which met the airline’s requirements but unfortunately did not meet the client’s.
Several modifications were required before it could be used comfortably.
The Challenge
The client had a holiday booked, but the airline would not accept the client’s main wheelchair for travel. A folding electric wheelchair was purchased, but had a number of issues:
1/ The client has short limbs, so the footrests on the travel chair were far too low.
2/ The chair controller could not easily be swung out of the way to allow the client to pull up to a dining table.
3/ The battery support brackets were too small, causing the battery to jump off when going over a bump.
The solution
Footrest and bracket shortened to suit client’s leg length. Holes re-drilled to give 70mm of adjustment in 10mm increments.
Two brackets machined from aluminium replace the original fixed mounting for the wheelchair controller. This modified arrangement allows the wheelchair controller to swing out to the side with the loosening of a single hand-wheel. Swinging the controller to the sides allows the client to pull up to a dining table and enjoy eating out. The bracket pivots on a thread-locked stud and nyloc nut, so cannot loosen and fall off.
Extensions welded on to existing battery brackets prevent the battery jumping off on rough ground.
The benefit
The client can now travel on holiday by air, which the family have not been able to do for some time.
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