Swing Away Medial Thigh Support

Abstract

The Rehabilitation Centre for Children has a need for a customizable medial thigh support, also known as a pommel. There are multiple problems with current commercial options available and they have commissioned a design that serves there most critical problems. Critical problems are: access to the wheelchair is blocked by the pommel, positioning of the pommel does not prescribe physical therapy treatment, this meaning the placement of the pommel cushioning does not provide sufficient lower body support or alignment. The way of attachment is not compatible with all wheelchair designs, the mechanism to engage and disengage the pommel is not intuitive, durability of pommel is insufficient and finally pommels are expensive to purchase.Objectives for this project were to create a pommel design that corrects al critical problems highlighted above. The final deliverables for this project were to design a functional and cost effective pommel support, produce a feasible and manufacturable CAD model with engineering drawings of the final design, provide a detailed bill of materials withcost analysis and a finite element analysis to ensure structural integrityof design. The final design completed by Team 13, addressed all the critical problems expressed by R.R.C. The design is composed of a customizable cushioning reinforcement with three different sizes designed, an adjustable arm connecting the cushioning reinforcement to the hinge mechanism, which allows for 210 degrees of rotation, locking mechanisms for when the pommel is engaged and disengaged. The engagement lock is spring loaded plunger and the disengagement lock is a magnet that holds the pommel at 210 degrees, completely under the wheelchair. Finally the mounting component uses four fasteners and pre drilled holes in the wheelchair’s sit plate to secure thepommel. All critical problems seen with commercial pommels were solved and accounted for. The 210 degree rotation of the pommel allows for easy access to the wheelchair from any angle, because pommel can be moved and secured completely under the wheelchair seat. The pommel allows for adjustability in the vertical and horizontal direction because of adjustable slot and screw features located along the arm and under the cushioning reinforcement. This adjustability will allow...