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Inflatable ring locks chair for disabled
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13/07/2008
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A small, battery powered air pump and an inflatable ring are key to stopping wheeled desk chairs from moving, so that the wholly or partially disabled can get in and out of them more safely.
Developed by Stephen Hobday – the inventor of the Maltron ergonomic keyboard – the design acts as an almost universal base for wheeled desk chairs, particularly those with anti twist gas stems. It functions as a normal five-wheeled base, with the addition of two metal rings, sandwiching an inflatable air cell ring.
Activating the hand control, which contains a small battery powered pump and a valve, inflates the ring so as to press down a ring of five stabilising feet which lift the wheels of the chair just clear of the ground, so that the chair cannot move around freely. This provides a stable platform for the user, allowing safe transfer to or from a wheel chair or walking frame. When the user is safely in the chair, pressing a button releases the air from the ring, which allows the chair to descend so that its running wheels are once more in contact with the ground, so the user can freely move around in front of their desk.
The ‘Movement Lock’ is manufactured by Ergochair and sold by dealers including Enabling Computer Supplies, which provides a range of technologies for computer users with either special needs or just a desire to use aids to make their work easier.
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Author
Tom Shelley
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