Operation of Center-Mounted Wheelchair Footplate

Certain power wheelchairs include a center mounted footplate to support the feet of the wheelchair user. Some users cannot reach down to lift the footplate out of the way during transfer. This Instructables describes the design of a simple telescoping rod that can be used to easily rotate the center-mounted footplate into its upright position.

List of Materials

• Vproof Monopod Selfie Stick (on Amazon, $14.99)
• 3 ft. by 6 in. Vel-foam (on Amazon, $10.99)
• Threaded 8-32, 2 in. Standoff Spacer Screw (Digi-Key Electronics, $2.62 + other suppliers)
• Machine Screw 8-32, 0.75 in. (on Amazon, $2.43 for a pack of 25)
• Adhesive Velcro Strips 1.2 x 4 in. (on Amazon, $7.99 for a pack of 20)
• Bandage or Sports Wrap (available widely)
• General Purpose Aluminum Tubing (on McMaster-Carr, $6.80 for 12 in.)
• TRYMAG Refrigerator Magnets (on Amazon, $8.99 for 100 pieces)
• Gauder Self-Adhesive Metal Tape (on Amazon, $14.99 for 10 ft.)

Tools

• Power Saw
• Power Drill
• Tap
• Sewing Machine
• File
• Scissors
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Screw Driver
• Tape Measure

(This is optional, however, ignoring this step will result in a longer stick than necessary.)

1. Place the stick in a clamp and align it with the laser on the drill press. Using a 5/32" bit, drill a hole out of the two black pins on the second thinnest end of the telescoping piece, all the way through the stick.
2. Put the whole stick in a vice clamp, then using pliers, pull the thinnest piece out of the telescoping section. Be careful not to compress the telescoping rod in the vice clamp.

1. File the top as needed (where the opening exists) so that is not sharp, and stick a 0.25 x 0.5 inch piece of foam in the hole.
2. If the threaded standoff is not purchased, one can be fabricated using an aluminum tube.
3. Place a 0.25" OD aluminum tube on the bandsaw and cut off a 2" segment.
4. Tap a 0.5" deep hole you just created with an 8-32 tap, creating a standoff.
5. Attach the 2" threaded standoff to the rod using a machine screw.
6. Machine screws can be inserted into the free end to create a more rounded rod end.
7. Tighten each of the screw-standoff connections until the standoff doesn’t spin. Be careful not to deform the end of the stick by tightening too much. Using Loc-Tight or other thread lock will help secure the standoff.
8. Cut off 4 inches of the adherent bandage or sports wrap and wrap it around the standoff to create a higher friction surface.

Two wheelchair attachment options have been designed, Velcro and magnet. Velcro attachment is achieved by fabricating a handle cover from Vel-foam and affixing adhesive Velcro hook to the wheelchair. The magnetic option involves wrapping a metal tape around the selfie-stick and covering it with self-adherent bandage or sports wrap. Small magnets are affixed to the chair and the telescoping stick connects to the magnets.

Option A: Sewing and Installing the Vel-Foam Handle

1. Take the piece of Vel-foam that is 6” wide and fold it over the handle as shown. After folding over, the opening should be 1.65”.
2. Either use a sewing machine or hand sew a straight line at the 1.65" marking.
3. Cut off the end of Vel-foam past the sewn part. Roll the foam inside out so that the ends are now on the inside.
4. Slide the Vel-foam onto the handle.
5. Put the sticky end of the Velcro strip somewhere on the wheelchair for easy access.

Option B: Magnetic Handle

1. Cut of 3.75" of the ferrous metal strip and wrap it around the handle about an inch from each end.
2. Wrap the handle of the stick with the bandage/sports wrap.
3. Locate a magnetic surface on the chair and place the magnets to secure the rod.

1. Identify a convenient mounting location for the telescoping rod.
2. The rod can be extended using two hands or can be extended by placing the hook on the wheelchair armrest while pulling the sticks handle away.
3. The rod can then be used to reach the footplate and rotate it into its upright position.

We thank the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation for providing support for this project.