GB2487916A

GB2487916A - A shopping basket for wheelchair users

Info

Publication number: GB2487916A
Application number: GB1102119.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jennifer Steadman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-08
Filing date: 2011-02-08
Publication date: 2012-08-15
Also published as: GB201102119D0

Abstract

A basket A has a strap (B, fig.3) which may extend around a userâ s waist (or the wheelchair) to keep it basket in place while leaving the userâ s hands free. The basket is preferably made from durable plastic, and may be collapsible (B, fig.2). The waist strap (B, fig.3) may be adjustable in length using buckle (D, fig.3) or hook and loop fasteners. Carabiner clips (A, fig.3) may be provided at either end of the strap to connect it to the basket. Pockets may be provided inside the basket, which will remain on top in the folded condition so their contents can still be accessed. When folded flat the basket can be used as a laptop or card table. The basket can also alternatively be hung on the back of the wheelchair.

Description

DcscriptIQ Name of invention-The Lappy Basket± "Promoting independent shoppjngjor the wheelchair user." As a fiercely independent long term wheelchair user, I was becoming increasingly frustrated at the fact that one of my favourite past times, shopping was virtually impossible to do on my own. A trip to my local supermarket, grocers or garden centre was becoming something that I dreaded rather than enjoyed. Food shopping on line was great for the bulk of my shopping, but if I wanted to take a trip out to collect a few items, holding a basket on my lap, collecting my shopping and wheeling myself around was an impossible nightmare. I was sat in the queue in my local grocers one day and tried tying the strap from my handbag around the handle on the basket and voila, it worked! I went home and immediately put my plan into action to design a shopping basket that would help me continue independent shopping and that wouldn't require the strap of my handbag to it to keep in on my lap.

Once my design was crudely cobbled' together using items that were readily available from my local hardware store, I realised that other wheelchair users might also find this design useful and thus the Lappy Basket' was born! The Lappy Basket is made up from a wipe clean mouldable polystyrene bean filled cushion based (Fig 1 D and Fig 2 C) collapsible basket. (Fig 2 B shows basket in collapsed position held closed by strapping) The shopping basket can be secured on the lap around the waist of the wheelchair user enabling safe, secure and comfortable shopping and transportation of items back to their vehicle. Thus leaving the users hands free for propelling themselves independently.

The rectangular collapsible basket will be made of durable injection moulded grilled plastic for lightness (Fig 1 A) A handle will be moulded into each side for ease of lifting. (Fig i F) The two long sides of the basket will be hinged hi-fold collapsible (Fig 1 B) while the shorter two sides will be swing hinged' at the top (Fig 1 G) to allow the sides to fold inwards and swing upwards during the basket collapse thus allowing the internal pockets to sit on the top of the collapsed basket for full access. The basket will also house a tray to catch any spillages. (Fig 1 C) The waste strap (Fig 3 B) will be made of webbing material and will be adjustable in length via a buckle (Fig 3 D) or hook and loop fastener depending on the size of the user. A padded adjustable back support (Fig 3 C) will be included. The strap will clip onto the basket (Fig 3 A and Fig 1 E) via carabineer style clips. It will also be an option for the user to secure the strap around the back of the wheelchair backrest or handle.

The basket collapses for easy storage (Fig 2) and if the inside pockets have been left in place, they will then lay on the top for easy access of keys etc. When the basket is collapsed, it will be secured closed by a hook and loop strap (Fig 2 B) and will include loop handles for hanging/storage on the back of the wheelchair when not in use. (Fig 2 A) The Lappy Basket' Basket optional extra * Inside the basket there will be the facility for adjustable straps to hold bottles of varying sizes and an extendible key ring for car keys.

* There will also be the facility for removable inside pockets made of a sturdy material and will be adhered to the inside of the basket using hook and loop fixings and will also fasten closed using either Hook and loop or press stud poppers.

* A hinged/folding clip to hold a shopping list, hooks on the sides to hold bags of soft fruit, a tube on the front house a rolled newspaper or magazine.

* An elasticated waterproof cover to keep shopping dry.

The Lappy basket' will be available in a several different sizes for use by anyone including children who can use it for transporting toys, laptops, books etc from place to place.

Any wheelchair user would find this basket invaluable for independent shopping and for the transporting of goods back to their vehicle or to their home and will leaving the users hands free for selecting items to buy and the wheelchair can be propelled in the usual fashion by its user.

At the checkout, the user can simply repack their shopping back into the Lappy Basket', thus eliminating the need for any shopping bags or the need to hang bags from the handles of the wheelchair risking damaging the chair back and injury to the wheelchair user.

Some of the larger, well known high street stores have shopping trolleys that are designed for wheelchairs, have a component to clip onto the arms/foot rests of the wheelchair, however, the majority of newer shape wheelchairs don't have the necessary part of chair for the part to clip onto.

Normal store shopping baskets are not securable for the user and will not sit comfortably on the users lap leaving the users shopping balancing and at risk of toppling off their lap risking injury or damage. This is something I have had experience of.

The baskets are uncomfortable on the user's legs and if the basket is dirty, the users clothing will be damaged. Sometimes these baskets can become easily damaged or bent and this could potentially cause injury to the user. I have also experienced this many times! Independence for the wheelchair user is of vital importance and I believe that this design will encourage more wheelchair users to carry out independent shopping and boost their self esteem and independence.

Of course the Lappy Basket' usage is not restricted to just shopping, it can be used by wheelchair dependent children in schools and by adults in the work environment and in any capacity where the wheelchair user is required to carry items comfortably, safely and securely.

The Lappy Basket'

Claims

Claim."Promoting independent shoppingfor the wheelchajr user." 1. The Lappy Basket' is a wheelchair shopping basket that can be safely and securely held on the users lap and fixed around the user's waist via a strap leaving the hands left free for propelling the wheels and accessing the brakes thus promoting independence for the user.
2. The basket is big enough to hold a decent amount of shopping and yet compact enough to sit comfortably on the users lap.
3. The wipe clean, polystyrene bead filled cushioned base means that the user's legs aren't hurt at all even if the shopping is heavy as the beads mould to the users shape and can be kept clean so that clothing isn't damaged.
4. The Lappy Basket' has a hook and loop strap to secure bottles so that they don't fall over, nylon pockets to hold your keys, purse etc and strap to secure the basket when closed.
5. The base of the basket will be made of a non slip material.
6. Folds flat in one easy movement.
7. Is completely collapsible enabling the user to store it in the boot of their vehicle.
8. When folded flat, the inside pockets sit on the top of the basket for ease of access.
9. When folded flat, and the inside pockets removed, the basket can double as a laptop orcard table.
10. The waist strap clips onto the basket using Carabiner clips and doubles as a shoulder strap for carrying by an able bodied person or can be hung on the back of the wheelchair handles using the two integral handles.
11. The design is made of lightweight grilled, injection moulding plastic and is easily washable.
12. The base houses a tray that will catch any spillages from bottles.
13. It is easily transportable and can be used by males and females for any kind of shopping, school, work and study aid transportation i.e. laptops college books etc.
14. There are no other designs similar to this one and the only other shopping aid available for wheelchair users are the wheelchair shopping trolleys which often won't fit onto the majority of modem wheelchairs or could potentially damage the pathtwork on very expensive chairs and they are too long to move the wheelchair comfortably. These trolleys also more than double the length of your wheelchair and are very difficult to manoeuvre around the stores.
15. Shop supplied baskets have no means of fixing around the user waist and so will fall off the users lap. They can easily become un-balanced once shopping is put in them. This means that the shopper has to use one hand to hold the basket and one to wheel themselves along. Shop baskets are also uncomfortable on the user's legs and often dirty or sticky from spills etc and can easily become damaged or bent causing injury to the wheelchair user.The Lappy Basket'