D4E1 Mobile Hoist Aid

For a school project (Design for everone) we had to design a solution for someone with dissabilities. The person we worked with was an MS-patient, because of this disease his legs don't function and he uses a wheelchair. In the bathroom he uses a hoist. But this product has some flaws. The part that supports his legs is made of a hard plastic and is strangely shaped (does't fit the body), it slides on the skin which makes his position in the hoist bad leading to backache. The solution we came with was a textile part wich replaces the bad leg-support. It's water-resistant, strong, comfortable and doesn't slip.

These are the materials to use:

- 5 metres of climbing straps

- aluminium tube (diameter: 20mm, length: 80 cm)

- hose that fits in the tubes (length: 88cm)

- sewing thread

- strong textile (62cm * 82 cm)

- 2 climbing carabiners (without security lock)

Tools:

- metal saw / tube cutter

- sewing machine

- textile scissors

1. Cut the aluminium tubes in 4 little tubes each one is 20cm long.

2. Put the hose in these tubes and cut it when the hose protrudes slightly at both sides.

1. Make two large parts of textile which are similar (dimensions) : 62 cm * 41 cm

2. Fold all the edges (0.5cm over) and sew them, this makes sure all edges are nicely finished and won't loosen.

3. Fold the parts double in the width (the shortest side)

4. Sew all the edges together and make sure all edges are inside.

5. Put the tubes in the textile and sew them in, make sure the seams are extremely strong because the weight of the person is puling on them. Sew this multiple times. Make sure you have +- 40 cm of textile between the two tubes.

Pull a strap through each of the tubes and knot them together, connect them to the lift and try to use them, now measure the ideal dimensions. Notice both sides are different: one side is fixed to the frame, the other is loose and can be fixed with the carabiner, both sides will have a different length and configuration

The fixed side:

1. measure the distance from the tube of the frame to the start of the textile (distance x in the picture)

2. calculate the length of the rope with pythagoras

3. add 4cm to the total length of the rope, this is the overlap of the rope that will be sewn.

4. cut it at the calculated length

5. pull the strap through the tube and sew it together (4cm overlap), this must be very strong, sew it multiple times

The loose strap with carabiner:

1. pull the strap through the tube

2. cut and sew it (again very strong), use the dimensions on the picture (the height of the carabiner can be adjusted by putting it through one of the three loops).

1. The fixed loop is attached to the hoist with a simple knot (see image)

2. Put the textiel under the legs, take the loose end over the frame and attach the carabiner to the strap of the fixed loop.