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Product Designer
Product Manufacturer Product Description and Principal Function(s) The TrackChair is an innovative world first manual wheelchair mechanism that offers its user a host of advantages over a conventional manual wheelchair.The TrackChair offers many existing electric wheelchair users the chance to become self propelled and exercise while offering existing manual wheelchair users improved mobility. The TrackChair enables the user to carry objects with one hand while maintaining full control over the chairs movement with the other. The TrackChair’s other features include, load sharing, improved steering with 2:1 turning ratio and utilization of stored momentum. Conventional manual wheelchairs only perform as good as the user’s weakest arm. Key Product Features and Benefits The TrackChair has two hand rims on each wheel which is a world first. This enables the chair to be fully controlled via either hand and has many advantages over a conventional manuals wheelchair.The TrackChair has been design to blend into a market resistant to change while offering a solid look and feel. It is gratifying to see a new user’s eye brows raise during their first test drive of the TrackChair. The TrackChair is easy to steer even when the front swivel wheels are on carpet or grass because it has a 2:1 ratio while turning; This gives a 4:1 advantage while turning within it’s own footprint which can be advantageous if court in train tracks etc. A conventional manual wheelchair requires braking force on the inner wheel while turning which not only requires operator energy but also wastes the stored energy; Slowing down the smaller hand rim on the TrackChair actually speeds up the opposite wheel which enables the operator to use the stored momentum. The TrackChair operator can use their stronger arm to compensate for their weaker or injured arm. TrackChair is easier to maneuver over obstacles. Both arms can be used to drive one wheel over an obstacle, and the obstructed wheel will not loose traction unless both wheels loose traction. The TrackChair is also easier to use single handed compared to a conventional single handed wheelchair. The two hand rims only require half the effort to lock together for forward travel and turning is a 2:1 ratio. The TrackChair can also be converted to a permanent 2:1 drive system to help frail and recovering persons, the outer rim can be easily removed from each wheel, the drive axle removed and replace with two stub axles, the TrackChair now behaves like a normal manual wheel chair but the drive rim has to rotate two times for every turn of the drive wheel, of course it is slower to get any where but it only takes half the drive effort. An aluminum cross support extrusion has been incorporated to ensure wheel alignment, hide axles, provide flexible mounting arrangement for wheelchair manufacturers and provide a quick release mechanism to remove the wheels. The hub gears have bearings fitted to them directly rather then on the gear axle for improved rigidity and alignment. The hand rims utilize high grade plastics to provide an ergonomic user interface while providing a more comfortable feel in hot & cold climates. Many current electric and power assist wheelchair users may not have been ably to use a conventional manual wheelchair because they have a weaker arm, or required mobility while carrying objects around the home or office. The TrackChair allows these candidates vital exercise while providing an environmental benefit by not requiring ongoing energy usage for mobility. Quality of life is improved using the TrackChair; it is now possible to carrying a jug of water, opening a door, safely handle hot food, answering a mobile on the move, nursing your baby. |
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Design Mark
