GB2493595A

GB2493595A - Wheelchair with leg restraining straps and method of construction

Info

Publication number: GB2493595A
Application number: GB1210327.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Jessop
Original assignee: SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY
Current assignee: SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY
Priority date: 2012-06-12
Filing date: 2012-06-12
Publication date: 2013-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-12
Also published as: GB2493595B; GB201210327D0

Abstract

A wheelchair 200 and a method of providing a wheelchair, having wheels 110 and a seat 140 comprises two separate load-bearing straps 210 each operable to respectively restrain one leg 250 of a user on the seat, and a plurality of anchor points 214/216 each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair, wherein the anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains. The anchor points may be orientated to receive the load bearing straps in a substantially vertical position. In a first embodiment the first anchor point may be positioned between the respective leg of the user and the wheel adjacent that leg, and the lateral position of the second anchor point is positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels. In a second embodiment, a further anchor point is positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that the load bearing strap restrains.

Description

WHEELCHAIR AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

The present invention relates to a wheelchair and a corresponding method of construction.

Typically, sports wheelchairs have the same basic structural components as conventional wheelchairs except for modifications that assist with the execution of a sport, or assist with the safety of engaging in that sport. Hence for example a wheelchair for a marksman may have additional elbow supports and/or an attachable table to assist with steadily aiming and firing a gun. to

Referring now to Figures IA and 1B, other sports require additional speed, stability and/or safety fcaturcs from a wheelchair. Typically speed is achieved by rcducing the weight of the wheelchair, for example by reducing the overall size of the seat (140, 150), and using high strength, low weight components for the frame (112, 120, 130) and wheels (110).

Meanwhile, stability may be provided by lowering the seat and/or making the wheels non-parallel such that the axial distance between the wheels at the point of contact with the floor (Shase) is greater than the axial distance between the tops of the wheels (5top. This provides a wider lateral support region than vertical wheels would otherwise do, meaning that the wheelchair can be tipped further sideways before it (or its occupant's) centre of gravity falls external to the contact point of the wheel on the floor -at which point the wheelchair would tip over.

In addition, for rotational stability about the wheel axis, a pair of casters (135) may be provided to stop the wheelchair tipping too far backwards. Casters may also be provided at the front (not shown), for example on the footplate (125).

The additional safety features may include further strengthening of the frame, for example by the use of extra struts and/or larger struts, the provision of a protective frame (not shown) at the front of the wheelchair to guard the user from collisions, and similarly a restraining harness to hold the user within the wheelchair.

Referring now also to Figure 1C, which shows just the seat portion of a sports wheelchair, typically such a restraining harness takes the form of a scatbelt similar in kind to the lap-scatbelt found in aircraft or coaches. The seatbelt comprises anchor points (145L,R), typically welded to the support frame holding or forming the scat, and a restraint strap (155) that passes over the user's legs to hold them down onto the seat of the wheelchair.

However, there is an on-going need to improve the arrangement of restraining harnesses to improve the performance of a sports wheelchair.

The present invention seeks to mitigate or alleviate the above need.

In a first aspcct, a wheelchair is providcd in accordance with claim 1.

In another aspect, a method of making a wheelchair is provided in accordance with claim 11.

Further respective aspects and feaffires of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -Figure 1A isa first elevation of a schematic diagram of a sports wheelchair.

-Figure lB isa second elevation of a schematic diagram of a sports wheelchair taken from a viewpoint A as indicated in Figure 1.

-Figure IC is a schematic diagram of a restraining harness for a sports wheelchair.

-Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a sports wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a sports wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a sports wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a harness in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a method of making a wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

A wheelchair and a method of making a wheelchair are disclosed. In the following description, a number of specific details are presented in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to a person skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed to practice the present invention. Conversely, specific details known to the person skilled in the art are omitted for the purposes of clarity where appropriate.

Figure 2 illustrates a sports wheelchair (200) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Features common to the wheelchair of Figure 1 are similarly numbered. It will be appreciated that for the purposes of clarity, the struts (130L,R) and casters (135L,R) have been omitted from this figure.

In this embodiment, a restraining harness 210 comprises respective left and right harness units.

The harness units comprise a load bearing strap (210L,R) that may be of any suitable material, such as leather or a non-stretch nylon or polyester weave, and optionally padding material and/or a protective shell (not shown) between the strap and the user's leg (250L,R).

Each strap is separately fastenable using a respective fastener (21 2L,R). Hence in practice, each load bearing strap comprises two portions that may be fastened together. The fastener may be any suitable fastener, such as a buckle or clip. In the case of a clip, it may be of a ratchet-shut and lift-to-release variety in order to provide a simple means of tightening the strap and subsequently releasing it. It will be appreciated that the fasteners can be placed at any suitable point along the straps, and need not be symmetrically positioned.

At one end (hereafter the outer end'), each strap is anchored to the seat or seat frame by an anchor point (214L,R). This anchor point may be a pivoted to allow some rotational movement of the outer end of the strap.

Each strap then passes through an aperture (21 6L,R) in the seat. The apertures may be common to both straps or separate, as appropriate. The aperture may be reinforced to prevent wear, for example by edge stitching, or leather, plastic or metal edging. The straps then continue down and end (hereafter at an inner end) at an anchor point (218) on the wheelchair frame.

In Figure 2, the anchor point is substantially coaxial with the wheel axes, for example on a cross-bar ( 2) co-axial with thc wheel axes, but in embodiments of the present invention an anchor point on any suitable strut of the wheelchair is envisaged.

Consequently, when compared to the prior art restraining harness of Figure IC that crosses the user's lap, the overall coupling between the user and the chair is improved because the user's legs cannot slide freely left and right (laterally) to the same extent, and because the individual and separate motions of the users legs can be separately transmitted to the chair, whereas for example in the prior art harness, if the user's left leg is lifted more than the user's right, then the user's right leg may effectively be decoupled from the chair entirely as the left leg lifts the hamess off the right leg. This is both unstable and in this example prevents any subtlety of control bcing conveyed by use of the right leg.

In contrast, notably in an embodiment of the prcscnt invention the anchor points (2 14L,R, 218) for each leg harness are on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg. This means that a lifting force (i.e. a force applied vertically with respect to the plane of the floor, or more generally with respect to the common axis of the wheels) applied by one leg is transferred predominantly to the same side of the wheelchair as that leg. That is to say, unlike the existing lap-restraint, the lifting forces from the left and right legs are respectively coupled to the left and right halves of the sports wheelchair.

It will be appreciated that that an anchor point located centrally between the wheels is not located on the other side of the wheelchair for the purposes of this embodiment, or equivalently that this centre point can be treated as neutral or on the common border of both sides of the wheelchair. Hence where the anchor point for the inner ends of the straps is a common middle anchor point, this means that the anchor points for each leg harness can be considered to be on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that they restrain.

Hence advantageously, by separately restraining the user's legs, this provides the user with the ability to selectively transmit a lifting force to the left or right side of the wheelchair by use of their legs. That is to say, the user can selectively lift the left side of the sports wheelchair by lifting their left leg, or equally by leaning to the right and transmitting their body rotation through their left leg, and conversely they are able to selectively lift the right side of the sports wheelchair by lifting their right leg, or equally be leaning to the left and transmitting their body rotation through thcir right leg.

Referring now also to Figure 3, in an embodiment of the present invention, in a sports wheelchair (200') the restraining harnesses are arranged to transmit lateral forces from the user's legs to the wheelchair. Again in Figure 3, some struts and the casters are omitted for clarity.

It will be appreciated that it can be useflil to tip a wheel (1 IOL,R) of the wheelchair off the ground in order to rapidly turn the chair. When doing this, the pivot point of the wheel chair is the base of the opposite wheel (i.e. where the wheel currently meets the ground). Therefore preferably in order to tip the wheel chair, a force should be applied to the wheel chair that is orthogonal to the plane of the wheel whose base forms the pivot (as illustrated by the dashed arrow in Figure 3). Some of such force may be provided by the user's torso andlor thigh pushing against a side of the scat adjacent to the wheel.

However, in an embodiment of the present invention, alternatively or in addition the inner end of each strap (210'L,R) is anchored to a respective anchor point (228L,R) on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the users respective leg, at an angle substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the user's respective leg. Because the straps will pass each other, the apertures (2 16'L,R) may be staggered, and the straps may be offset front-to-back. In addition, the apertures may be further strengthened or protected by placing them above (or affixing them to) support struts of the wheelchair or seating frame. Hence for example, the straps could pass through the apertures and bend around respective support struts beneath the apertures so that the strap still passes substantially vertically through the apertures before bending towards the opposite side of the wheelchair.

Consequently a user can transmit a lateral force towards the wheel whose base is intended to form the pivot for the desired tipping, as each strap selectively transmits lateral forces in this direction from the respective user's leg.

It will be appreciated that any padding or shell between the user's leg and the strap can be padded out or shaped to improve the lateral coupling between the user's leg and the strap, on one or both sides of the leg, as applicable.

Whilst the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and as described herein can be implemented separately, it will be appreciated that in an embodiment of the present invention the strap arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3 can be provided simultaneously by stitching or otherwise affixing a flirther lower portion onto each strap, so that respective portions proceed down to the central anchor point (118) and across to the opposing anchor points (228L,R). Hence in this embodiment each strap effectively splits to form two portions substantially orthogonal to each other (one being vertical towards the floor and one being horizontal, or at least orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective user's leg). Each portion of the strap is then anchored to the wheelchair at the respective anchor points (118, 228L,R) at angles that are to similarly substantially orthogonal to cach other.

Because the lifting and lateral forces are orthogonal and they arc transmitted orthogonally, as a result advantageously there will be little cross-transmission of forces.

It will also be appreciated that for either the arrangement of Figure 2 or Figure 3, the anchor point for the outer end of the strap may be positioned at any suitable location on the wheelchair that is substantially vertically below either the outside edge of the user's leg (i.e. the side closest to the adjacent wheel) or the outside edge of the chair, depending on considerations of comfort and chair design. Hence in Figure 3, by way of example the respective anchor point (214'L,R) is on a spar 112 coaxial with the wheels rather than on the side of the seat. The straps may go over the side of the chair and then proceed down, or may pass through apertures (226L,R) substantially below the outside of thc user's leg.

Referring now also to Figure 4, in an embodiment of the present invention in a sports wheelchair (200") the restraining harnesses are arranged to transmit rotational forces from the user's legs to the wheelchair. In this Figure, occluded elements of the wheelchair have not been shown for clarity.

In this embodiment, alternatively or in addition to the positioning of the straps as described previously, the outer and inner cnds of the respective straps (2l0"L,R) may be positioned differently with respect to the front and back of the chair (the front being the direction the user faces in normal use). As shown in Figure 4 in an instance of this embodiment, the anchor points for the outer end of each strap (214"L,R) are in front of the axis of rotation of the wheels (shown by the dotted arrowed line) whilst the anchor point (218") or points for the inner end of each strap are behind the axis of rotation of the wheels, for example beneath the aperture (216").

It will be appreciated that the reverse arrangement is also possible, in which the outer anchor points are behind the axis of rotation of the wheels and the inner anchor points are in front.

It will also be appreciated that the distances of the respective straps from the axis of rotation of the wheels, in particular for the outer anchor point, might be different for each leg and tailored to a specific user.

Thus in general, the outer and inner anchor points of each strap are on opposite sides of the axis of rotation with respect to the front and back of the wheelchair. This advantageously makes it simpkr for the user to tip the wheekhair backwards and forwards about the axis of rotation of the wheels by transmitting lifting forces from the knee or the hip, respectively, which are translated into moments of rotation about the axis due to the non-axial nature of the forces at the anchor points.

It will be appreciated again that the above arrangement for transmitting rotational forces can be used in conjunction with the harness arrangements for either transmitting lifting forces or transmitting lateral forces, or both. In addition it will be appreciated that, as appropriate, respective corresponding straps for the two leg harnesses may be anchored in parallel or may be staggered with respect to each other.

Referring now to Figure 5, in an embodiment of the present invention the restraining harness optionally further includes a back harness (for example positioned in the lumbar area or across the coccyx). In Figure 5, just the seat is shown for clarity.

In this embodiment the back harness passes around the back of the user (1000) in normal use and anchors to the wheel chair using anchor points (225). The harness may be resilient (elasticated), or have adjustable straps to change its effective length, or both.

The back harness serves to hold the user securely within the leg harnesses, so that they cannot easily move backwards out of the leg harnesses. That is to say, the harness is adjusted so that it will not extend backwards far enough to let the user's legs slip backwards out of the leg harnesses. This can be important particularly for user's with partial limbs.

In addition, when the user leans back the harness will also transmit some force to the anchor points (225) that will be translated into a rotational moment if the anchor point is in front of the axis of rotation of thc wheels, as will be the case in the example illustrated in Figure 5. This can provide better and safer control than just pressing against the small scat back (150) alone.

It will be appreciated that in the above embodiments, the structural arrangement of the to wheelchair may vary according to thc sport and the requirements of the individual user, and consequently the arrangement of struts, casters, footplates and the like described herein is non-limiting. However, the following general principles remain in the respective embodiments: -respective restraining straps for each leg of the user are arranged in one embodiment such that the anchor points for each strap are on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg of the user, improving the overall coupling bctwccn the user and the chair, -more specifically, in one embodiment anchor points for transmitting substantially vertical lifting forces to the wheelchair are on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg of the user, allowing selective lift to be applied to the left and right sides of the wheelchair; -respective restraining straps for each leg of the user are arranged in one embodiment such that one anchor point for transmitting substantially lateral tilting forces to the wheelchair is on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg of the user; and -respective restraining straps for each leg of the user are arranged in one embodiment such that the anchor points for transmitting rotational forces to the wheelchair for each strap are on are on either side of the axis of rotation of the wheels of the wheelchair.

Hence, in a summary embodiment of the present invention, then as described previously a wheelchair (200, 200', 200") -having wheels and a seat -comprises two separate load-bearing straps (210L,R) each operable to respectively restrain one leg (250L,R) of a user (1000) on the seat, and a plurality of anchor points (218, 214L,R, 214'L,R) each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair, and in which the anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains (e.g. up to and including the middle of the wheelchair on the same side as that leg).

In an instance of the summary embodiment, the anchor points are oriented to receive the load-bearing straps in a substantially vertical direction. This helps to separately transmit vertical (lifting) forces to the wheelchair from the respective legs of the user.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, for each load-bearing strap, the lateral position of a first anchor point is positioned between the respective leg of the user and the wheel adjacent to that leg (e.g. on the side of the chair, or on a strut beneath the chair), and the lateral position of the second anchor point is positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, for each load-bearing strap, a further anchor point (228L,R) is positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains. Preferably, thc further anchor point is oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in a substantially horizontal direction, or more specifically in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap is restrains. This helps to separately transmit lateral (tilting) forces to the wheelchair from the respective legs of the user.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, for each load bearing strap, the first anchor point is on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point is on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair. Hence if the first anchor point is in front of the axis (as viewed from above, and treating the front of the wheelchair as the front), then the or each other anchor point will be behind the axis, and vice-versa.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, each load bearing strap comprises a first portion and a second portion, and each strap comprises a fastening means (21 2R,L) to fasten the two portion together. The fastening means itself may be in two halves, associated with respective portions of the strap.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, the seat comprises at least a first aperture (216, 216L,R, 216'L,R, 216") laterally positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels, through which the load-bearing straps pass.

In an instance of the summary embodiment, the wheelchair comprises a harness and two harness anchor points, and thc harness is operable to pass around the back of a user and anchor at the harness anchor points to restrain the user from withdrawing their legs from the load-bearing straps.

Finally, it will be appreciated that an existing wheelchair may be retrofitted to become a wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention by the provision of suitable straps anchored to the wheelchair in accordance with the teachings of one or more of the embodiments herein.

Accordingly, referring to Figure 6, a method of making a wheelchair comprises: -in a first step slO, selecting a plurality of anchor points each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheekhair; and -in a second step s20, anchoring to the wheelchair at the selected anchor points two separate load-bearing straps each operable to respectively restrain one leg of a user on a seat of the wheelchair, in which the selected anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that variations in the above method corresponding to operation of the various embodiments of the apparatus as described and claimed herein are considered within the scope of the present invention, including but not Limited to: -for each load-bearing strap, selecting a further anchor point positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains, the further anchor point oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains; and -for each load bearing strap, positioning the first anchor point on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A wheelchair having wheels and a seat, and comprising: two separate load-bearing straps each operable to respectively restrain one leg of a user on the seat; and a plurality of anchor points each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair; and in which the anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A wheelchair according to claim 1 in which the anchor points are oriented to receive the load-bearing straps in a substantially vertical direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A wheelchair according to claim I or claim 2, in which for each load-bearing strap, the lateral position of a first anchor point is positioned between the respective leg of the user and the wheel adjacent to that leg, and the lateral position of the second anchor point is positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims in which for each load-bearing strap, a further anchor point is positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A wheelchair according to claim 4 in which the further anchor point is oriented to reccivc the load-bearing strap in a substantially horizontal direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A wheelchair according to claim 4 in which the frirther anchor point is oricnted to receive the load-bearing strap in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims in which for each load bearing strap, the first anchor point is on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point is on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair.</claim-text> <claim-text>A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each load bearing strap comprises a first portion and a second portion, and cach strap comprises a fastcning means to fasten the two portions together.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims in which the seat comprises at least a first aperture laterally positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels, through which the load-bearing straps pass.</claim-text> <claim-text>TO. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a harness; and two harness anchor points; and in which thc harness is operable to pass around the back of a user and anchor at the harness anchor points to restrain the user from withdrawing their legs from the load-bearing straps.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A method of making a wheelchair, comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of anchor points each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair; and anchoring to the wheelchair at the selected anchor points two separate load-bearing straps each operable to respectively restrain one leg of a user on a seat of the wheelchair; and in which the selected anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A method according to claim 11, comprising the step of: for each load-bearing strap selecting a further anchor point positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that thc load-bearing strap restrains, the further anchor point oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12, comprising the step of: for each load bearing strap positioning the first anchor point on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A wheelchair substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A method of making a wheelchair substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1-, I-)Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A wheelchair having wheels and a seat, and comprising: two separate load-bearing straps each operable to respectively restrain one leg of a user on the seat; and a plurality of anchor points each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair; and in which the anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as thc respective lcg that the strap restrains; and the seat comprises at least a first aperture laterally positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels, through which the load-bearing straps pass.
2. A wheelchair according to claim 1 in which the anchor points are oriented to receive the load-bearing straps in a substantially vertical dircction.
3. A wheelchair according to claim I or claim 2, in which for each load-bearing strap, the lateral position of a first anchor point is positioned between the respective leg of the user and the wheel adjacent to that leg, and the lateral position of the second anchor point is positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels.
4. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims in which for each load-bearing strap, a fhrther anchor point is positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the rcspcctivc leg that the load-bearing strap rcstrains.
5. A wheelchair according to claim 4 in which the further anchor point is oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in a substantially horizontal direction.
6. A wheelchair according to claim 4 in which the further anchor point is oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains.
7. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims in which for each load bearing strap, the first anchor point is on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point is on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair.
8. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each load bearing strap comprises a first portion and a second portion, and each strap comprises a fastening means to fasten the two portions together.
9. A wheelchair according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a harness; and two harness anchor points; and in which the harness is operable to pass around the back of a user and anchor at the harness anchor points to restrain the user from withdrawing their legs from the load-bearing straps.
10. A method of making a wheelchair, comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of anchor points each operable to anchor a respective end of a strap to the wheelchair; and r anchoring to the wheelchair at the selected anchor points two separate load-bearing straps each operable to respectively restrain one leg of a nser on a seat of the wheelchair; and in which the selected anchor points for each load-bearing strap are located on the same side of the wheelchair as the respective leg that the strap restrains; and the seat comprises at least a first aperture laterally positioned substantially equidistant between the wheels, through which the load-bearing straps pass.
11. A method according to claim 10, comprising the step of: for each load-bearing strap selecting a fflrthcr anchor point positioned on the opposite side of the wheelchair to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains, the further anchor point oriented to receive the load-bearing strap in direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wheel adjacent to the respective leg that the load-bearing strap restrains.
12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, comprising the step of: for each load bearing strap positioning the first anchor point on one side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair, and the or each remaining anchor point on the other side of the axis of the wheels with respect to the front of the wheelchair.
13. A wheelchair substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A method of making a wheelchair substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawl ngs. (4 r 0)</claim-text>