11 replies to this topic

[duncfitz]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently working at the Royal College of Art, developing a design for foldable wheelchair wheels. These wheels were designed as a student project looking at the world of folding bikes over 2 years ago. However, they are now approaching completion as a fully developed and usable foldable wheel product for the manual wheelchair market.

Some general information:

The wheels fold from 24" size when in use, down to a package the size and shape of a tennis racket bag for transportation and storage. In this format they are a vast improvement on a regular wheel when it comes to ease of handling and the sorts of spaces you can put them in. My hope is that this will, for example, allow a full sized manual wheelchair to be easily packed in an overhead locker on an aircraft. They have a push rim built in and can work with either inflatable or solid tyres. You can see some images and video of very early prototoypes here: http://folding-wheels.com/

This work is progressing well but we need to research the true needs and requirements of wheelchair users in relation to this product in more depth to make sure the design work proceeds in the right direction. This research will also to help to guide what sort of foldable wheels we should be developing (e.g. cheap & low end for occasional use? light weight high performance? spare wheels specifically for travel?)



I've prepared an online survey which can be accessed by clicking on this link
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BGC9WHR



If this project interests you please take 15 minutes or so of your time to fill it in. Your answers will be a huge help and could be critical in helping us develop the right product!

At the end of the questionnaire you can let me know if you're interested in helping to test and evaluate the new wheelchair wheel prototypes. If you are, then you can leave you contact details at the end of the questionnaire and I'll be in touch soon!

Many thanks and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Duncan

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[WildKat]

There are a couple of "concerns" and thoughts I have on this. I hope you don't mind me sharing them, and I'm not trying to say "don't do it" or anything so please don't take what I'm about to say that way.

1. How strong are the wheels when bumping down curbs/stairs etc.?

2. How much extra width etc. would these wheels add to the chair?

3. The knobby bits on the pushrims would get in the way and make them very hard to use. Especially going downhill.

4. How would high pressure tires handle the folding? My tires go up to 145 psi. What about solid tires?

5. Will there be other sizes? Some people use 24", but others use 25" and 26"

That's all I can think of right now. besides how much will they weigh and what exactly will they be made of.

I think it's a great idea, if the price is not too excessive, they are strong and can withstand daily life enough to trust they are not going to break, are not too heavy, the pushrim situation is sorted out and they don't add extra width to your chair.

(Just edited to add that I've also done the survey.)

Edited by WildKat, 09 February 2010 - 10:26 PM.

[jules]

Survey done, hope i've been of some help

Jules

[wheelywendy]

completed your survey hope it helps

[Trinity]

Also done here! I must admit I'm also concerned by the knobbly pushrims, otherwise seems like a pretty decent idea

[duncfitz]

Hi Wildcat,

Thanks for your comments and no, I don't mind at all your sharing them! It's really good to hear these things... it gives me as the designer a really great opportunity to make sure the product answers any concerns people may have. Here's some answers to your comments:

1. We've just completed the first tests of locking the new wheels into their circular shape and they are incredibly strong and stiff. When in use, each wheel is a tight, tensioned system, just like a regular spoked wheel, so it can take almost anything that's thrown at it!

We'll be getting these wheels fitted to a chair in a few weeks and to run some tough tests to see how they perform when dropped from height and impacting obstacles such as kerbs. Early indications though, are that they may be even stronger than we need!

2. These wheels are exactly the same width as regular, non folding wheels.

3. The push rims are essentially a bolt-on feature. These new prototypes are going to be used to test 3 designs of foldable push rim, 1 with the "knobbles" and 2 without. It will be very interesting to get user feedback on the feel and use of each of these designs... it's one of the key jobs for our new prototypes to do!

4. The inflatable tyres we use can be folded at full inflated pressure. Previous tests with the foldable bike wheel were done at 120psi. The wheels will also work with non-inflatables.

5. Yes, there will be other sizes. We're starting with 24" as it's one of the most common and once we get this perfected we can produce the other sizes.

Weight is currently in line with current, non foldable wheels and will get lighter as I refine the design! Hope this all sounds good, and many thanks for completing the survey!

Duncan

WildKat, on Feb 9 2010, 03:31 PM, said:

There are a couple of "concerns" and thoughts I have on this. I hope you don't mind me sharing them, and I'm not trying to say "don't do it" or anything so please don't take what I'm about to say that way.

1. How strong are the wheels when bumping down curbs/stairs etc.?

2. How much extra width etc. would these wheels add to the chair?

3. The knobby bits on the pushrims would get in the way and make them very hard to use. Especially going downhill.

4. How would high pressure tires handle the folding? My tires go up to 145 psi. What about solid tires?

5. Will there be other sizes? Some people use 24", but others use 25" and 26"

That's all I can think of right now. besides how much will they weigh and what exactly will they be made of.

I think it's a great idea, if the price is not too excessive, they are strong and can withstand daily life enough to trust they are not going to break, are not too heavy, the pushrim situation is sorted out and they don't add extra width to your chair.

(Just edited to add that I've also done the survey.)

[dangerousdave]

I don't want to sound negative - but why
The Revolution was a foldable fixed frame idea that was realy naff
Fixed frames can no have a realy small footprint and wheels are not realy that big
The folding mechanism will add weight and our wheels take such a pounding that dented rims are the norm
What we realy need is for airlines to design us into plains
We have been designed into trains (Switzerland is brill) buses are fast becoming more accessable
It's not as if we will fold up our wheelchairs and walk them somewhere

I know what I have just said has ignored our powerchair members - but it is about time you to were designed into airplane frames

[adaptiveone]

I completed the survey and think its a great idea. When I load my Quickie Revolution which is the tightest folding chair on the market and put in on the back of my Harley Davidson, quick folding wheels would be a great space saver.

[edlee]

I've also completed your survey.

I think you will find that, for most of us, our chairs are very personal and that our tastes vary greatly,,, but I believe we would all find the folding wheels to be of great value,, even if not for every day use.
ed

[Denny]

I have completed survey. Wildkat really covered all the questions I can think of. Wheels look very good option while travelling, and would not mind even it is not as comfortable as regular wheels.

[COOL Mobility]

Survey completed.
We are always going to strike storage issues when travelling - ie luggage/cases, plus friend, plus wheelchair, in a standard sedan taxi with LPG tank - really tight fit - can't always get vans.

Great engineering and "thinking outside the circle [box]", best of luck with project.

Colin

Edited by COOL Mobility, 19 February 2010 - 06:25 AM.

[furrytractor]

It's always great to hear of people trying to inovate with chair design, well done.

One area you might not have thought about is travel shower chairs. In my job I'm regularly asked about where you can purchase (or hire) compact, lightweight, self-propelled shower chairs. The addition of folding wheels, if cheap, could be a useful addition.

If the wheelchair market doesn't work out for you, I'm sure that Penny Farthing owners would be interested in talking to you!

Survey completed, best of luck.