View Full Version : Real Chairs
Alan Holt
02-23-2012, 06:02 PM
Hi everyone! I'm a rehab equipment provider and an ATP. I don't want to get spammy, so I won't mention where I am or who I work for, but I'd like to begin sharing some "real" chairs with you all. My customers seem to get frustrated by the "Use your imagination" thing to try to envision what their chair will look like with this option or that back support or those wheels. The manufacturers make promotional materials available, however, they are limited in the information they can convey with so many options available. Never will you see a factory picture of a Quickie chair with a ROHO cushion on it. They simply don't cooperate in that fashion.
As a result, I've taken to photographing real customers' chairs prior to delivery as a visual reference to use when showing equipment to users. This has provided me and my customers a great resource in picturing what the final product might look like. We still have to play "Use your imagination" some, but it is greatly reduced by having pics of real chairs set up for real users.
Not all will apply to every user, of course, but I'm hoping over time that I can build this thread up to have a pretty good cross section of gear.
First up, a pediatric tilt in space chair. This is a Zippie Iris, outfitted with a Jay 3 seat cushion, a newly introduced back support from the Comfort Company called the Embrace, a Whitmyer headrest, padded pelvic belt, padded calf strap, padded anterior trunk support. The armrests are Quickie's single post height adjustable models. This chair has 55 degrees of manual tilt, is equipped with WC19 tie down loops and has all the growth built in that this young guy will need before he wears it out.
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/IMG-20120223-00909.jpg
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/IMG-20120223-00908.jpg
t8burst
02-23-2012, 06:09 PM
Cool, I don't think this is spam and am always interested in "real" chairs. Welcome to CC.
Colin83
02-23-2012, 06:12 PM
I like the idea of this thread !
smashms
02-23-2012, 08:02 PM
Like the idea also welcome look forward to seeing more chairs!!
Alan Holt
02-24-2012, 09:54 AM
Wow, those pics are rotten, aren't they? I need to watch that!
Wow, those pics are rotten, aren't they? I need to watch that!
No offense intended, but thats what I was going to comment about! With keeping a running compilation for customers, watch your photo composition. It takes away from the chair with things like a flash or sunlight bleaching out your photo.
Love the thread though. I really enjoy checking out everyones chairs. Another who works in the industry here, SCI_OTR pastes really informative threads about chairs he puts together for clients.
Alan Holt
03-05-2012, 11:28 AM
Here's a new one; another Quickie. This is a Quickie 2 Lite. It's equipped with transit tie downs, a Jay3 back (upper thoracic support, medium depth) a Supracor honeycomb seat cushion, swingaway padded arms, spoke wheels, tippers, 70 degree swing in/out footrests with composite angle adjustable footplates.
There is also a headrest and anterior trunk support to go with the tie downs. Many school districts require the headrest/shoulder/seat belts for bus riding. Remember, supports attatched to the chair are NOT occupant restraints, but are positioning aids only. Occupant restraints are attached to the vehicle!
(Hope these pics are better)
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/IMG-20120305-00973.jpg
Alan Holt
03-05-2012, 11:28 AM
Hmm. Marginally, perhaps. I need a new a camera.
chasmengr
03-05-2012, 11:51 AM
Or a tripod.
t8burst
03-05-2012, 12:04 PM
Man, how do people get around in a barge like that?
SCI_OTR
03-05-2012, 01:30 PM
Your reasons for starting this thread are exactly why I got involved here in the first place. I have found that the best way to make information available for future reference is to start a separate thread for each noteworthy chair you do and include key words in the title of the thread. The Google search box at the top will take care of the rest. For example, enter "TDX UltraLow" or "85 Deg TiLite" and see what comes up. I have even found myself referring to my own threads when I am in the process of spec'ng somethng out at work.
If a member is interested in something specific, they will usually post a thread about it and I will post relevant pics is I happen to have them.
Then there is the CareCure CAD Repository in the "Sticky" section.
Welcome to the "cloud" for all things related to SCI custom mobility.
brian
03-05-2012, 01:38 PM
Man, how do people get around in a barge like that?
Slowly.
Patrick Madsen
03-05-2012, 02:12 PM
Was thinking the same T8 lol. The back must be fitted for a guy at least 6'7"
grommet
03-05-2012, 02:18 PM
Man, how do people get around in a barge like that?
Slowly. Chairs were like this for a long time and a lot of people still have chairs like this. In fact, there are a lot of lifetime chair users who have stuff that's just above a hospital chair and spend decades in them. Had a friend with a nasty clunky wiggly very heavy ugly chair that was barely above a hospital chair. For some reason it's what she chose and I could tell that my suggestions were not welcome. I didn't get it except that it was her choice.
Oh the stuff from the old days. I started using a chair just as things were turning around in the powerchair market. I think manual chairs started improving in the 80s.
t8burst
03-05-2012, 02:30 PM
Slowly.
:) I will keep my zra2 with the carbon fiber sprinkles.
Was thinking the same T8 lol. The back must be fitted for a guy at least 6'7"
I was under the impression it was another pediatric chair, due to the school district mention?
I was under the impression it was another pediatric chair, due to the school district mention?
I think you are correct.
BobMach
03-05-2012, 06:48 PM
that quickie2 was my first chair in 1997, lol. AND i still have it
grommet
03-05-2012, 07:55 PM
that quickie2 was my first chair in 1997, lol. AND i still have it
Chairs in order:
Hospital chair (eek!)
Everest & Jennings Lancer (slow, noisy frame, great motors and controller)
Quickie P200 (awesome chair, fast, tight turning, small, rough ride and very noisy)
Top End Super Pro-T (super light, pretty well made, didn't fit me)
Quickie S626 (fast, goodlooking, quiet except for anti-tippers, bad flutter, great tilt)
Breezy (folding chair, forgot model, good looking and comfortable - in storage now)
Invacare TDX-SP (great suspension and turning radius, tilt sucks, motors suck!!! broken 2 years now)
Tilite TR (amazing, absolutely amazing, very well designed and made)
Icon coming ;-)
MillsWheels
03-05-2012, 10:02 PM
^and when said icon comes you will pass out from happiness I think! hahaha! I'll be super excited for you!!!!!
grommet
03-05-2012, 10:27 PM
^and when said icon comes you will pass out from happiness I think! hahaha! I'll be super excited for you!!!!!
Actually I hope to stay awake and enjoy it ;-)
If I do anything like I did when I got my Tilite TR, I'll be spending hours and hours adjusting it and trying things out. But patience I must have (Yoda voice). :-)
Some are heavier , clunkier ,noiserer ,
I started out in Very heavy Chromie oldies , Learned lots and modded quite my share out of personal necessity in the past .... I definitely like light simplistic designs less is more aspect..
Still I know a few nice Great people who are accustomed and like their old heavy anchors ...
Some people have their preferences
My Chromie Barges of yesteryear .In the past The only way I can push my Barges was with the help of a TugBoat because my shoulders are shot lol BTW I also had Foghorns on my old :fish2:Barges
For me lightweight and practicality is my choice .
Preference is a choice At least I think so
Wait I forgot :rotfl::tease:
MillsWheels
03-06-2012, 08:49 PM
Actually I hope to stay awake and enjoy it ;-)
If I do anything like I did when I got my Tilite TR, I'll be spending hours and hours adjusting it and trying things out. But patience I must have (Yoda voice). :-)
I look forward to a very long dissertation on all you've done and what you've done to it! because I know your mild obsession with your TR LOL!
like this thread very much look forward to seeing more chairs
Alan Holt
03-07-2012, 10:20 AM
Man, how do people get around in a barge like that?
The young man receiving this one needs a lot of postural support. A higher priority forhim than light weight.
t8burst
03-07-2012, 10:25 AM
The young man receiving this one needs a lot of postural support. A higher priority forhim than light weight.
Sorry, wasn't being mean. I just zip around a lot in my chair and was trying to imagine doing the 5 blocks from my pad to my work in SF in that chair and didn't see it happening. I know we all have different needs.
grommet
03-07-2012, 03:32 PM
I look forward to a very long dissertation on all you've done and what you've done to it! because I know your mild obsession with your TR LOL!
like this thread very much look forward to seeing more chairs
Oh it will be a dissertation when I get some time in with my new Icon :-)
Actually I hope to make some videos for my youtube channel showing the diversity of the Icon. Should be fun.
grommet
03-07-2012, 03:39 PM
Sorry, wasn't being mean. I just zip around a lot in my chair and was trying to imagine doing the 5 blocks from my pad to my work in SF in that chair and didn't see it happening. I know we all have different needs.
I know what you mean. I learned a long time ago that everybody has different needs and tastes. I used to see lots of chairs that didn't make any sense to me but that's the point I made to myself - they didn't make sense to me.
I don't know what it's like for some one else. I feel pretty bad when someone judges me. A friend has the craziest COG I've ever seen or tried. His front end feels like he has a 50lb sack of concrete on the footrest. I don't know how he does anything in that chair. He also has knobby tires he keeps way under-inflated. The thing is, he's traveled the world and in some Third World places with his chair. It works for him. It would make me crazy but I don't have his disability, personality or ideas. A while ago I started thinking that if something works for some one that's all I need to know.
As for me, I want a really responsive very lightweight chair but, and maybe it's my age, I'm done with lot's of COG and tippiness. I'm at 1.25 now and it works pretty well for me. When I get the Icon I plan to experiment a lot with seat angle and height so that I can try more COG and still feel stable. Man the stuff I did when I was young. Almost went over backwards when I pushed hard at about 15mph. I had 3.5 COG then (different chair). That was one responsive chair though ;-)