CTC 41 Wheelchair Concept

31 May, 201229 September, 2017 UniversalDesignStyle

Manual wheelchairs are tools that have proven themselves over the years. However the standard manual wheelchair most of us have come across hasn’t changed much over the last few decades. Yes there are many companies that make wonderful manual wheelchairs that have advanced the basic design. But most wheelchairs that are available in public stores, hospitals, stadiums, etc. are the standard fold up metal framed wheelchair. Industrial designer Douglas Papuga of Branford, CT has designed a wheelchair concept that aims to improve on the standard wheelchair. His CTC 41 wheelchair improves on cost, weight, durability, and ease of use.

Honeycomb Good
What’s first noticeable about the CTC 41 is the material it’s made of and how it’s formed. The frame and wheels are all made of injection molded polyethylene. A lightweight plastic that is also durable. A honeycomb pattern was modeled after shopping carts like the ones used by Target. Of course the honeycomb pattern is extremely strong and while still being lightweight. Making CTC 41 light and easy to transport.

White Glove Potential
Getting hands dirty while propelling the wheels of a wheelchair can be a problem for some. After interviewing wheelchair users Papuga discovered that many gripped the tire and rim together to get more force. Resulting in sooty hands. The rims on the CTC 41 have an extended lip that conforms to the hands better. Giving users more force without gripping the tires.

Additional Info and Contacts
The seat and back are designed similar to existing standard wheelchairs. So does the folding motion which is down the center. You may ask where the footrests are. Well they fold out from the side pieces just above the front wheels. The picture below shows this but it’s a bit hard to see since it’s white on white. Because of the low cost of the polyethylene, CTC 41 has the potential to be very affordable to the public. For even more on CTC 41 and it’s design process, visit this website. To see more of Douglas Papuga’s portfolio and resume, click here.