Wheelchair Access Device

Sponsor Presentation

By: Cory Wyn, Kayla Lett, Nick Groselak, and Austin Soeters

Presentation Outline

1. Problem Statement
2. Our Prototype
3. Our Design
4. Specifications
5. Verification Calculations
6. Verification Testing
7. Intellectual Property Analysis
8. Costs
9. Project Recommendations
10. Questions

Problem Statement

Wheelchair users typically store their backpack or other types of bags on the rear of their wheelchair.

• Cannot access their belongings by themself
• Dependence on help from others
• Puts strain on their back from twisting trying to reach their belongings
• Experienced the problem firsthand

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Our Prototype

Key features :

• Adjustable mount
• Three link arm system
• Backpack mount

Modes of operation

• Stored
• Deploying
• Backpack Access�

Our Prototype

Our Design

Material choice:

• Current prototype
• Steel
• Suggested for future models
• Aluminium, Composite

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Our Design

1. Adjustable mounting system
1. Horizontal adjustment track
2. Vertical adjustment bolt clamps
3. Angle adjustable mounting shaft collars
2. Linkage arm
• Links
• Bushing and pin joints
3. Extra features
• User deployment handle
• Backpack mount
• Storage position lock (magnets)

Our Design

1. Adjustable mounting system
1. Horizontal adjustment track
2. Vertical adjustment bolt clamps
3. Angle adjustable mounting shaft collars

Specifications

Specifications (continued)

Verification Calculations

Linkage arms design verification

• Bending in beams due to weight force from the user’s backpack
• Mathematically proven
• Major Conclusion: the use of aluminum hollow, rectangular pipes would not exhibit major bending when put under a force load of 20 pounds
• This allowed us to move forward with the linkage arm design

Verification Testing

Linkage joint design verification

• Bending in joints due to weight force from the user’s backpack
• Experimentally proven
• Major conclusion: Iteration two of the joint style will be used

Sagging seen in original joint design

Sagging seen in new joint design

Verification Testing

Linkage arm verification testing:

• To test the strength of the linkage arm
• To test the force needed to move the linkage arm

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• Conclusion: The design of the linkage arm is strong enough to hold a backpack that weighs more than 20 pounds.
• Conclusion: The force needed to rotate the arm around was found to be 1.5 force-pounds.

Intellectual Property Analysis

Based on research of past and current patents, our wheelchair access device is patentable.

• Design does not infringe on any existing patents
• Does not contain all of the same elements as other patent designs

Should you invest the money to patent the device?

• Small market
• Not large enough to keep up with cost of patent
• Not large enough amount of competition in market

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Costs

The cost of the current prototype is $246.59

The majority of this cost is embedded in purchasing specific high quality bearings, bushings, and pins.

The cost of the device could vary depending on the stock materials used as well as purchasing parts and materials from specific suppliers.

Costs (continued)

Recommendations

Moving forward, if the group was given more time, more design iterations would need to be centered around:

• Lengthen of the last linkage arm that supports the backpack mount
• Center the backpack on back of wheelchair
• Design a handle of better position and length
• User friendliness
• Magnet system for securing the linkage arms
• Latch system
• Design a backpack mount more suitable for most backpack types
• Suitable for most backpack types
• Raise the backpack closer to the user
• Change the material of the prototype
• Decrease weight
• improve aesthetics

Questions?