By no means underestimate the ingenuity of the human inhabitants. They are saying necessity is the mom of invention, and that appears to be the driving pressure behind the Safari Seat, an all-terrain gear-driven wheelchair inbuilt Kenya for folks with restricted mobility to get round. Most wheelchairs are optimized for paved sidewalks and constructing hallways, however dwelling within the African countryside doesn’t precisely afford wheelchair customers plenty of paved and degree paths. YouTuber JerryRigEverything went to Kenya to take a look at out the wheelchair and go to the manufacturing facility the place they’re produced. It’s really a fabulous work of easy engineering downside fixing.
Most hand-propelled wheelchairs merely present a seize floor on the face of the massive facet wheel as the primary supply of propulsion. From a seated place you may seize on and shove the wheel to maneuver ahead or backward, or execute turns. Wheelchairs have been extensively used since their invention in 1595, although the design of contemporary chairs might be traced again to 1901. There hasn’t been plenty of progress on the essential design entrance since then. The Safari Seat modifications all that with what quantities to a ground-up rethink.
As you may see within the video, the Safari Seat makes use of gear-driven hand cranks to propel the seat ahead at a 2:1 ratio, like gearing down your bicycle. Not solely does this make transferring the chair a neater proposition, however it means you by no means should take your hand off the wheel to reposition and seize one other handful. That’s notably useful for if you’re climbing uneven surfaces.
The design is fairly rudimentary, with a pair of cushions sitting over a welded bar inventory body. These enterprising Africans are pushing ahead to create a greater world for the oldsters who want it, and utilizing what restricted assets they should get the job achieved. Contemplating the entire thing might be constructed utilizing about $350 in supplies is fairly cool, and should you’re so inclined, you may help The Accessibility Institute’s objective of giving these away without cost to those that want them by sponsoring a Safari Chair or a Safari Child construct of your personal.