This is my Master's Industrial Design project from Georgia Tech. The project was funded by NIDRR through the MobilityRERC (http://www.mobilityrerc.gatech.edu) at CATEA (http://www.catea.gatech.edu). Please check out my other work at http://www.toughguydesign.com.
(For any wheelchair or rehab companies that are reading this, I've been in the research side of things for 5 years managing a prototyping lab, and I'm looking for a new job.)
The idea is an in-hub brake with an articulating hand-rim, that allows users to keep their hands on the wheels at all times. The wheel could be designed to fit virtually any manual wheelchair, as long as there is a way to key the brake shell to the frame to keep it from rotating. This is done on the Invacare A4 in the video by replacing the camber tubes. It has been tried on a depot-style (K1) by using two of the axle positions.
Text from the video:
Ask any wheelchair user, and they will tell you that it can be very challenging to navigate the sloped terrain that one comes across daily. Here is a hands-on brake to help wheelchair users slow down and stop, both easier and quicker, while reducing burning and fatigue
Press forward on the hand-rim and the wheel rolls forward as it always has. reversing is the same as well. Slowing down, however, will never be the same again. The braking force that you apply, overcomes the floating hand-rim, engaging the brakes inside the hub of the wheel, slowing the wheel quicker and easier than ever before. All without missing a stroke.
This setup replaces the stock wheel and camber block of your chair, without increasing the chair's overall width. simply slip in the brake shell and tighten as normal. The quick release wheels then pop in place. There are no obtrusive cables or levers to deal with
Here, a user with quadriplegia, maintains his speed and comes to a smooth stop without burning his hands. The same individual also maintains control and easily slows down on a short steep driveway, even releasing the hand-rim to wave at a passing car. This user is able to come to a complete stop rather quickly as the brakes engage. As with any new assistive technology, there is a learning curve as one becomes comfortable with the device, as shown by this user with paraplegia wheeling through a parking deck. Not only for ramps and parking decks, using the brakes to stabilize makes even everyday tasks such as opening doors much easier.
