Adapted wheelchair brake

- manageable for individuals with impaired hand function; does not get in the way during transfers

User in wheelchair with brake cord and plastic loop that sets the brake

User in wheelchair with brake cord and plastic loop that sets the brake

The user drives an Ergo drive wheelchair from TiArrow. The brakes are set using a ring-shaped handle located under the seat. To set or release the brake, the user adapted the brake handle with a cord that has a plastic loop in each end. The cord, which sits on the front edge of the chair goes back to the brake handle and continues to the rear tube of the frame under the chair, where it goes around up to the left or right side of the front tube, see photos below. The brakes are set by pulling the cord at the front edge of the chair. The brakes are released by pulling the other end of the cord.

Users comments
The user could not reach the brake handle while sitting at a table so he came up with the idea of the cord. He likes the fact that the brake lever does not get in the way during transfers.

Made by
Vigand Nilsson, TiArrow, tiarrow.se (in Swedish), last checked April 2020.

Whose idea
The user

Wheelchair with brake handle and brake cord from below

Wheelchair with brake handle and brake cord from below

Wheelchair with brake handle and brake cord from below (wheelchair is covered by a sheet to be able to see the brake cord better)

Wheelchair with brake handle and brake cord from below (wheelchair is covered by a sheet to be able to see the brake cord better)

Plastic loop on brake cord

Plastic loop on brake cord

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