Wheelchair Bumper System

Wheelchair bumper system mounted on client's chair

Students: Catricala, Rosanna; Kohn, Stefan; Ripley, Justin Joseph

Advisor: HOFFMAN, A. H. (ME)

Sponsor: MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITAL SCHOOL

Impacts between powered wheelchairs and their surroundings can cause injury to the occupants and damage the wheelchair and environment. Wheelchair bumpers are not commercially available. The project goal was to design a shock absorbing system to reduce problems associated with wheelchair collisions A bumper system consisting of two sub-systems was designed, built and tested. One sub-system is a foot box that prevents client injury by acting as a physical barrier between the area of impact and the client's feet. The foot box also absorbs energy by compressing viscoelastic foam. The second subsystem is a parallel linkage footrest hanger mount that encases a viscoelastic polyurethane bumper. Both subsystems are mounted to the wheelchair without major modifications. Results of static and dynamic tests show that the system is able to reduce the forces experienced by the wheelchair for impacts up to five-mph and to lower the probability of injury of the occupant.

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Last modified: Mar 03, 2004, 10:13 EST