patrick mayer: wheelblades

‘wheelblades’

‘wheelblades’ are small, high-quality skis that can be mounted with one click on the front wheels of wheelchairs or baby buggies, thus significantly improving mobility in winter snow and ice. with the device in place, movement on snow is now exactly as on asphalt; a counterbalance on the large driving wheel is no longer necessary. this means the wheelchair can also be easily pushed by an auxiliary person if one’s own strength should dwindle.’ in this way, the wheelblades help provide more freedom and a whole new sense of life,’ explains inventor patrick mayer. through their wide contact surface, the wheelblades distribute the pressure of the wheelchair user optimally on the ground and prevent a sinking of the small front wheels into the snow. the blades run over the ground with very little friction and easily balance even greater surface irregularities. in order that the ski will always navigate in the desired direction, the binding has been shifted to the front portion of the ski. two grooves on the underside of the wheelblades provide stability during the journey.

‘the wheelblades are also extremely manageable, lightweight and can be attached to all common wheels in a matter of seconds,’ says mayer. investors and backers welcome the wheelblades are expected to be available from october 2012 and cost 224 swiss francs per pair. the inventor is seeking investors in order that the assistive equipment can be made available at all for this affordable price. ‘I will need 80,000 Swiss francs for the serial production’, mayer explains, ‘Single-unit production would be far too expensive.’

the device can be easily mounted onto the front wheels of buggies or wheelchairs

‘wheelblades’ provide more freedom of movement in snow and ice

up close of the ‘wheelblade’ attaching to the front of a wheelchair

http://www.wheelblades.ch

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