title: Evaluation of wheelchair seating system crashworthiness: "drop hook"-type seat attachment hardware.
abstract: 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.
authors: Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. ginaber@pitt.edu
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Bertocci
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Ha
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Deemer
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Karg
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014910:Wheelchairs