Practical Helps For The Handicapped - http://eiw.com/handi/

Arm-Strong Step Unit
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    If you can lift your self with your hands and arms, and keep steady while doing so, you can use the Arm-Strong Step Unit shown in this animated graphic. Your use of this unit is subject to the conditions in the disclaimer which appears at the bottom of this page.

Building the Arm-Strong Step Unit

    ANY DIMENSIONS GIVEN HERE MAY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMODATE YOUR NEEDS. It might be helpful if you knew that with feet I was 6' tall and weighed 170 pounds. I designed this unit to work for me and take up the least space. I have a few of these units made, placed where I am most likely to need them; including one in my van so it stays with me.

    The side pieces are 18" by 18" and the shape was blocked out in 6" squares; after cutting it's important to round the edges with a router so your hands don't suffer. Step pieces are 20" wide, but can be any width that you need; you need a couple of inches wider than your seat. Let's refer to your needed width as "W" from now on. Piece A is 2 1/2" by W in the unit shown which is not comfortable, but I stay on the top step only long enough to step up again to the chair. If you want more comfort, increase the 2 1/2", but the side pieces will have to be made wider. Pieces B, C, and D are all 5 1/2" by W, and a careful examination of the above graphics will show the assembly method. All pieces were cut from 3/4" plywood. Piece C was made to allow the botton step to be just deep enough so I could "hitch" myself up on it just long enough to move my hands and step up again. If you're heavier than I am, you may need to increase the 5 1/2"; remembering to re-size the sides. The hand rests on the sides must be forward and higher than the steps, as shown. The black line on the side view shows the ends of the step pieces that are mounted inside by screws. 2" long drywall screws do nicely. The apparent extra screw holds a small support block for the top step which can be seen in the rear view of the unit. The edges of the steps are much more comfortable with carpet on the finished unit.

    *Note: CAUTION! This unit works best for me when placed three inches in front of the chair that I wish to access. If you are perched on the top step and you move your bottom backward, the unit can tip to the rear. This isn't much of a problem if the brakes on your wheel chair are good because you won't go very far, but it can be disconcerting. If your chair brakes aren't great, place the chair against the wall and the step unit in front of it so there's no place it can go. Using the unit a few times teaches you how to hold yourself. The tipping only happened to me one time. The reason I chose not to extend the side pieces into the green area shown in the graphic above (which would make the unit less likely to tip) is that the extended wood makes it harder to position the unit close enough to the front of the chair.

    Let me know about your experiences; any improvments you have. Send me a photo if you wish. If you resize this unit for heavier persons, I'd appreciate a diagram with your dimensions and the size person they will accomodate. <mark@eiw.com>

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©1999 Mark Krell - ©1999 Equity International Webcenter

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

Ideas, artwork, and elements of this website are the intellectual Property of Mark Krell. If you are a disabled person who wishes to use any of my ideas to help you to improve your life, you have my permission, my blessing, and my sincere hope that I have helped you. If you are interested in manufacturing, marketing, or in some way making money from what you see here, you are not free to do so without compensating me. This is right and fair because I will use your money to develop new ideas and prototypes; thus creating new opportunities for you to profit.

DISCLAIMER:

Because everyone who is disabled has different individual needs due to differing physical conditions; you use any of my ideas with the express understanding between you and me that I cannot be held responsible for anything that may happen to you as a result of such use. It is your responsibility to determine your own physical capabilities. It is your responsibility to consult your physician to make such determinations if you are in doubt. By making use of my ideas, you agree to release me from any and all liability from any occurance connected with such use from this day forth until the end of time. You also agree to the same conditions with any contributor of ideas to these pages other than myself.

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Building the Arm-Strong Step Unit


ANY DIMENSIONS GIVEN HERE MAY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMODATE YOUR NEEDS. It might be helpful if you knew that with feet I was 6' tall and weighed 170 pounds. I designed this unit to work for me and take up the least space. I have a few of these units made, placed where I am most likely to need them; including one in my van so it stays with me. The side pieces are 18" by 18" and the shape was blocked out in 6" squares; after cutting it's important to round the edges with a router so your hands don't suffer. Step pieces are 20" wide, but can be any width that you need; you need a couple of inches wider than your seat. Let's refer to your needed width as "W" from now on. Piece A is 2 1/2" by W in the unit shown which is not comfortable, but I stay on the top step only long enough to step up again to the chair. If you want more comfort, increase the 2 1/2", but the side pieces will have to be made wider. Pieces B, C, and D are all 5 1/2" by W, and a careful examination of the above graphics will show the assembly method. All pieces were cut from 3/4" plywood. Piece C was made to allow the botton step to be just deep enough so I could "hitch" myself up on it just long enough to move my hands and step up again. If you're heavier than I am, you may need to increase the 5 1/2"; remembering to re-size the sides. The hand rests on the sides must be forward and higher than the steps, as shown. The black line on the side view shows the ends of the step pieces that are mounted inside by screws. 2" long drywall screws do nicely. The apparent extra screw holds a small support block for the top step which can be seen in the rear view of the unit. The edges of the steps are much more comfortable with carpet on the finished unit. *Note: CAUTION! This unit works best for me when placed three inches in front of the chair that I wish to access. If you are perched on the top step and you move your bottom backward, the unit can tip to the rear. This isn't much of a problem if the brakes on your wheel chair are good because you won't go very far, but it can be disconcerting. If your chair brakes aren't great, place the chair against the wall and the step unit in front of it so there's no place it can go. Using the unit a few times teaches you how to hold yourself. The tipping only happened to me one time. The reason I chose not to extend the side pieces into the green area shown in the graphic above (which would make the unit less likely to tip) is that the extended wood makes it harder to position the unit close enough to the front of the chair. Let me know about your experiences; any improvments you have. Send me a photo if you wish. If you resize this unit for heavier persons, I'd appreciate a diagram with your dimensions and the size person they will accomodate. <mark@eiw.com>

PRACTICAL HELPS FOR THE HANDICAPPED
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