Bath chairs were first made from wicker and provided a comfortable by lightweight form of mobility transport that was especially suited to areas with plenty of space. They were used mostly outdoors, but also known to have been used in the Roman baths at Bath — they were often used to transport wealthy patients around spas. They were considered so useful that they were then used widely to help with injured soldiers following the American Civil war, and continued to be popular through the Victoria period in Britain, helping transport people to the seaside, spas and hospitals.
During the s a similar type of chair was introduced in America; called rolling chairs, these were commonly seen along the boardwalk in Atlantic City. The first known wheelchair that was propelled by pushing the wheels was developed in Paris in , and made until This three-wheel chair had the two large drive wheels at the front, and a single small castor at the rear.
This is starting to look more like our modern wheelchairs. In the s a wheelchair was designed that is very similar to modern day transit wheelchairs , when the X-frame was invented by Americans Herbert Everest and Harold Jennings.
It has footrests, attendant handles and the now standard hand-propelled rear drive wheel. The Model 8 was the first low-cost, mass produced wheelchair, and was widely used in hospitals and nursing homes, so could well be one of the first mobility devices to be sold to the public care market.
After the X-frame was invented it was realised that this was the best wheelchair solution, and future advancements focused on improving comfort, safety, and reducing weight. He is the first known person to invent and use a wheelchair that could be independently propelled. It was a stable chair mounted on a 3-wheeled chassis with attached handles on both sides of the front wheel used to propel the chair forward.
Farffler, who is believed to have had paraplegia, created the wheelchair himself when he was only 22 years old! In a patent was taken out on a wheelchair that could be self-propelled and had large wheels at the back. Wheelchairs were starting to get less bulky but still were not easily transportable until when the folding tubular steel version was made by Harry Jennings. Harry Jennings was an engineer that designed it for his friend, Herbert Everest.
These designs inspired the development of lightweight performance wheelchairs such as the Quickie. The Quickie revolutionized the industry by introducing color and improved aesthetics, lighter weight, and increased performance. With bolder lines, dynamic design and eye catching coloring, many wheelchairs were appreciated not only for their improved performance but also for their artistic beauty. Both chairs were the must have chairs of their day.
The 21st century has seen a number of important changes in wheelchair production. There has been a proliferation of niche manufacturers specializing in one-off wheelchairs, specialty wheelchairs that are out of the traditional box, and the introduction of materials such as titanium, magnesium and carbon fiber. Special use wheelchair makers began turning out amazing products that included tracked wheelchairs, self balancing chairs, propulsion assists, power add-ons and improved sports wheelchairs.
Skip to content. Here are a few of the wheelchair evolution highlights. King Phillip II of Spain was sketched in a wheelchair in Inventions Expert. Mary Bellis covered inventions and inventors for ThoughtCo for 18 years.
She is known for her independent films and documentaries, including one about Alexander Graham Bell. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Bellis, Mary. History of the Wheelchair. Important Innovations and Inventions, Past and Present. Overview of the Second Industrial Revolution. The History of Electric Vehicles Began in The Most Important Inventions of the 19th Century. The History of Kitchen Appliance Inventions. Who Invented the Street Sweeper Truck? Your Privacy Rights.
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