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，其设计不断发展，使其能够进行日常生活活动并促进参与社区活动。现代“超轻”刚性轮椅，重约20磅。或更少，提供最新的性能，许多人谁是独立的，活跃在他们的社区。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椅定位提供了大量的可用性优势，尽管以额外的框架重量为代价。轮椅框架重量对旋转性能和可用性有影响（例如，在人转移后将框架提升到汽车中时，较轻的轮椅减轻了负担）。

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).