Buying a Folded Wheelchair

A wheelchair that folds is perfect for those who travel frequently on a basis or have limited living space. This lets them easily transport their wheelchair to a holiday with them or into public transportation.

Begin by turning off and disconnecting the power (if necessary). To unfold the chair, locate a safe place and remove any obstructions.

Seat and Handlebar

By lifting the lever on the side, the handlebar of the chair can be folded down. The consumer can lower the footplates and then swing them out and allow for standing transfers. This can also be useful for putting the chair underneath the desk or table. Some chairs come with armrests that can be removed to give them a cleaner appearance and help in transporting the chair in smaller vehicles.

The first thing that consumers should do when preparing to fold a wheelchair is to ensure that all pins and locks have been secured. This will stop the chair from disengaging during transportation or causing damage to other objects in a vehicle.

Most folding wheelchairs have an elongated cross-brace that collapses the frame when the sides are pulled together. There are other options for collapsing wheelchairs such as scissor brackets that fold the seat in half, and “quick-release axles” which make it easier to fit the chair into smaller spaces.

Before folding the wheelchair one should take the time to inspect it for signs of wear and tear, and any adjustments that are required. This will not only help to improve the lifespan of the chair but will also help prevent any unexpected problems that may occur during storage or transport.

Rigid Wheelchairs have solid frames that can be folded into a box-like shape for transport and storage. They are made of aluminum or titanium and offer an incredibly responsive feel since they do not bend when the wheelchair is being pushed. This reduces the amount of energy that a person must expend. Some users report that it helps to keep a higher level of control.

Before folding wheelchair lightweight a rigid wheelchair, the consumer should always inspect it for signs of wear and tear, or any adjustments that might be required. This will let the user know whether they require to lift or lower the footplates and then adjust the legrests. It is essential that the user consult their physical therapist prior to making any changes to their wheelchair since it can impact their standing and transfer abilities.

Uprights

The uprights are short arms that are located near the middle of a wheelchair frame, just below the point where the seat joins with the backrest. The hinges or uprights must be clearly identified and are typically a bit higher than armrests. It is important to properly identify and align these components of the wheelchair to ensure that they remain in the ideal, folded position.

Wheelchairs that can be smaller for transport and storage are referred to as collapsible or folding travel wheelchair wheelchairs. They are typically self-propelled, and come with an adjustable backrest that folds down to reduce height as well as a vertical ‘X’ frame to reduce width. The steerable front wheels and rear load wheels are mounted on brackets that pivot onto the upper and lower bars of the sidewalls, which also help support the uprights.

When the chair is fully open position, the links 61, 60, and 62 (see Figs. 2 and 3) of each slide are tensioned and the uprights 9 can’t be moved in relation to each other, even if the handles 16 are in raised positions. When the wheelchair is folded semi-folded the uprights may be moved forward from their bearings by moving the slides 61 and 62 on the front and rear axles correspondingly.

If the seat’s depth is too narrow, it will cause the wheelchair user to sit improperly and may not be able to relieve the pressure on their thighs. This could result in pressure sores. To check whether the seat is wide enough, measure the distance between the backside of the pelvis to the onset of the pre-seat bone shelf.

When the wheelchair is properly positioned, it should be secured and locked. This will avoid injury or damage from accident during transportation and storage. The wheelchair should be inspected several times to make sure that the locking mechanism functions correctly. This is especially important for wheelchair users with poor sensation in their thighs and feet, as unintended movement of the chair during transport or storage could cause serious injuries. Once the wheelchair is secured and locked, it can be safely put away in its travel bag or container.

Seat and Backrest

A wheelchair’s seat and backrest are designed to offer stability, support, comfort and pressure relief. They can also ease discomfort and prevent pressure ulcers and sores for people who spend a long period of sitting. Backrests for chairs and seat cushions are available in different sizes, shapes and materials. For comfort, foam gel, or air cushions are available. Combination foam/gel and combination foam/air cushion options provide an even more personalized solution that is able to balance stability and pressure distribution.

The most suitable wheelchair for your needs is based on the type of environment you’ll be using it in and the individual requirements you have. Your doctor will assist you in this process and prescribe the most suitable wheelchair for you.

Wheelchairs that easy fold wheelchair are collapsible and can be reduced in size for storage, transport and travel. They usually have the “cross-brace” or “X” frame design which allows the wheelchair to fold in half by pushing the sides together. More recently a scissor brace has been introduced that enables chairs to be folded from the front and rear rather than from the side, which could save space.

Rigid frame wheelchairs do not fold and require a huge vehicle for transport. They are usually considered wheelchairs for young athletes and minded individuals but can be used by anyone who requires more stability than a folding chair provide.

Many wheelchairs are now being made from carbon fibre which is extremely lightweight and strong. However the use of this material could increase the cost. Some manufacturers have found that combining titanium with carbon fibre helps in reducing costs.

Folding wheelchairs can be kept in a cupboard, a storage room, or even the boot of a car to transport patients to social gatherings, doctor’s appointments or family events. Even when on vacation! In addition, our engineers have created a unique solution with the “fold-forward backrest” which can reduce the height of your wheelchair to make it more compact and therefore easier to take in smaller cargo hold on planes.

Wheels

Wheels may be the most important part of a wheelchair, especially for users who require mobility because of a medical condition that limits their ability to walk or move independently. The quality of the tyres, casters and wheels can make a a huge difference to their lives. A good set of wheels will help them get to where they need to get there without feeling the rough edges of pavements or bumps in the road.

Wheels in a wheelchair are composed of a Tyre (and rim or hand rim for manual chairs) spokes, mags, spokes and hubs. Depending on the model they are constructed out of plastic or metal. A typical wheel can support up to 300 pounds and weighs around 7.5 pounds.

Some wheelchair users have difficulty to transport and store their chair, especially if its wheels are not foldable. Foldable wheels such as the Morph Wheel by Vitamins Design, London, are designed to change this. The wheel can be folded in on itself to take only 12 liters, a fraction from the 22 liters it occupies when it is open.

Created by the same person who invented the foldable wheels for bikes the new model features the same central hub as well as six folding aluminum structures that replace traditional spokes. It also has an aluminum rim divided into six interlocking sections, and clad in a length of foam-filled tire. The result is a wheel roughly half the size of a standard 24 inches wheelchair.

It’s still a prototype, but the wheel has already sparked interest in the disability community. It was nominated for the Design Museum’s Designs of the Year 2013 along with libraries in South London and a stool made by magnets.

Although these wheels aren’t accessible to wheelchair users yet, the designers behind their development are working to bring them to market as soon as they can. The company used an internal focus group made up of wheelchair users to refine the design. A pair of Morph Wheels will cost around $950 and weigh more than other wheelchair wheels. The wheels can fit in overhead bins of airlines or tight rental car spaces. This makes travel much easier for wheelchair users.