Evaluation of wheelchair seating system crashworthiness: "drop hook"-type seat attachment hardware.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the crashworthiness of commercially available hardware that attaches seat surfaces to the wheelchair frame.


METHODS
A low cost static crashworthiness test procedure that simulates a frontal impact motor vehicle crash.


METHODS
Safety testing laboratory.


METHODS
Eleven unique sets of drop-hook hardware made of carbon steel (4), stainless steel (4), and aluminum (3).


METHODS
Replicated seat-loading conditions associated with a 20g/48 kph frontal impact. Test criterion for seat loading was 16,680 N (3750 lb).


METHODS
Failure load and deflection of seat surface.


RESULTS
None of the hardware sets tested met the crashworthiness test criterion. All failed at less than 50% of the load that seating hardware could be exposed to in a 20g/48 kph frontal impact. The primary failure mode was excessive deformation, leading to an unstable seat support surface.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that commercially available seating drop hooks may be unable to withstand loading associated with a frontal crash and may not be the best option for use with transport wheelchairs.
Bertocci
G
G
Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. ginaber@pitt.edu
Ha
D
D
Deemer
E
E
Karg
P
P
D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014910:Wheelchairs