Use of tensiles elements in wheelchair frame design

轮椅是一种广泛而成功的残疾人辅助技术，其设计使日常生活活动成为可能，并促进社区参与。现代“超轻”刚性轮椅，重约20磅。或者更少，为许多在社区中独立和活跃的人提供最新的表演。由主要申请人开发的Elevation轮椅最近被引入市场，作为传统超轻型轮椅的替代品。Elevation设计通过在正常使用期间提供用户可调节的座位定位提供了实质性的可用性优势，尽管以额外的框架重量为代价。轮椅车架的重量对车轮的性能和可用性有影响（例如，一个较轻的轮椅在人转移后将车架抬进车内时减轻了负担）。

Wheelchairs are a widespread and successful assistive technology for people with disabilities, with evolved designs that enable activities of daily living and promote participation in the community. Modern "ultralight" rigid wheelchairs, that weigh about 20 lbs. or less, offer the latest in performance to many people who are independent and active in their community. The Elevation wheelchair, developed by the principal applicant, was recently introduced to the market as an alternative to conventional ultralight wheelchairs. The Elevation design provides substantial usability benefits by offering user-adjustable seat positioning during normal usage, albeit at the cost of additional frame weight. Wheelchair frame weight has an impact in terms of wheeling performance and usability (e.g. a lighter wheelchair eases the burden when lifting the frame into a car after a person transfers).