From: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Jeffrey Vandyke)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Chair repair!
Date: 20 Jan 93 21:52:12 GMT
Reply-To: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 26329

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 -=> Quoting stuff from Bob Paddock to Jeffrey Vandyke <=-
 -=> On 01-1093  12:43 <=-

 JV>  What brand is it? I have to make a decision soon on a new
 JV>chair.

 BP> I asked Rogger, he said it was a Ever Jennings (Spelling?)
 BP> Marathon model.  We spent the next two hours talking about redesigning
 BP> it.  He said he saw *The Chair* that he wanted, it was made by a
 BP> German company and was described on the program "Inventions" or

  Yes, I've got the literature on that one (or, at least 2
tracked units from Germany), but I don't think it's particular
design would work real great on irregular ground. The
stair-climbing units are kind of special-purpose.

 BP> "Beyond 2000".  He contacted them and said they would not import into
 BP> the USA because of liability.   He said it was a tracked unit (Like a

  Liability. Yep. That's a killer from what I hear. I don't know
what the percentage of a chair's price is supposed to be due to
liability, but I hear it's a big chunk. Then there's also the
time you have to wait for some insurance companies to pay for it.
Some are quick, some take over a year.

 BP> Tom, Roggers stepfather, said that modern mountain bikes are
 BP> built better.  They come complete with shockabsobers, and much better
 BP> tiers.  The Wright Brothers started in the bicycle business, look
 BP> where it got us?  Maybe we should start a chair business in a mountain
 BP> bike shop?

  Built better, but not near heavy enough.

 JV>  Ah, if only I could afford you for a design for a 36vdc servo
 JV>steering system on a chair! Only thing is, I don't really need
 JV>1000A thyristors. <g> I'd prefer something in a MOSFET.

 BP> We use 2000V/500A SCR's for the mining machine
 BP> actually...probably would be a MOSFET or IGT for a chair tho....

  You have to use kill switches for those SCR's, don't you, in
case they lock up and won't turn off? Or have those problems been
solved?

 BP> I did some talking to my boss about getting in the chair
 BP> business, to sell thing at a reasonable price.  He told me if I could
 BP> find what out what rules and laws govern the manufacturing and sale of
 BP> chairs he would consider doing some thing.  Where would I find such
 BP> information?  In the end I doubt any thing would become of this, but
 BP> then maybe Rogger and I, with help from real users like yours self,
 BP> could start our own chair business? :-)

  Whew, you said a big one there. I know they're regarded as
Durable Medical Devices, with all that entails. I know it's not
easy. I can check around, but it'll take a while, and I don't
know if I'll be able to turn up anything useful. Give me a while
for the old brain to grind a bit.

 BP> Rogger was complaining that a new on/off switch for the
 BP> recline part of his chair cost him $500.   The same switch from Radio
 BP> Shack $2.95.  The Boss said that he ran into this with the company air

 BP> growing daily nicely..).  He had to replace the alternator in
 BP> his car, it cost $59.95.  A while latter he had to replace the
 BP> alternator in the plane, it cost $999.95 FOR THE EXACT SAME
 BP> ALTERNATOR!  He said that the paperwork, all of the licences,
 BP> approvals, and certifications, cost the $940.  I find this sickening,
 BP> what *value* did all of this paperwork add to the alternator, or
 BP> Roggers on/off switch?   Both the switch and the alternator broke,
 BP> even with all of this extra cost!

  That's about the way it seems to go.

 BP> If nothing else I'm going to learn a lot more about chairs...

  Probably more than you want. :)

Jeff

... My other wheelchair is a Sherman tank >>>>>>>>
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!279!14!Jeffrey.Vandyke
Internet: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org