The Access

T H E A C C E S S

T H E A C C E S S

“The U.S. Government needs to step in with policy and make inclusion into health and fitness centers for the dis-abled a priority. Most people equate disability to sickness and they are afraid to put sick people in a healthy environment. They don’t realize they are failing their main initiative which is health promotion.”

Mitch CarrDirector of Fitness/RehabilitationInstitute of Chicago

patent pending“We just want to be treated equal.”

Roughly 94% of public fitness centers do not offer any type of wheelchair accessible equipment.

The public perception of fitness has been skewed to an obsession based solely on appearance. Public fitness centers seem to focus more on the visual aesthetic of health, as opposed to the scientific well being. Due to this misconception, society tends to ne- glect people that do not portray the traditional ‘beauty.’ Wheelchair users, along with geriatrics, are often discouraged to go into their local fitness center. Fitness is essential to all. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a long healthy life.

Challenge: To design universal fitness equipment that accommodates all.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

patent pending

T H E U S E R : E V E R Y O N E

Although designed with a wheelchair user in mind; anyone, regardless of size, shape, age, mobility or fitness level has access to improve their health.

Provide fitness to all. Create a machine that is completely unbiased. Eliminate the barriers.

T H E A C C E S S

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R E S E A R C H

Designing for the extreme enables an opportunity to benefit all. The Access was designed to allow the most lim-ited user, an incomplete quadriplegic, to enjoy a workout independently.

Extensive research was imperative. Personal interviews with wheelchair users experiencing various degrees of paralysis and fitness levels were conducted.

In order to identify the problems that need to be solved, first hand experi-ence is required. It is important to feel your users’ struggles and frustrations. Know the world they live in, then provide your solution to improve it.

T H E A C C E S S


patent pending

S T O R Y B O A R D A N D D E F I N E D P R O B L E M A R E A S

S K E T C H E X P L O R A T I O N

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patent pending

T H E A C C E S S

“It’s hard to find a machine that’s to-tally accessible. I mean that’s the big-gest thing; I want to go in and work-out in an hour and that’s impossible.”

Brett HarbageOWSA Quad Rugby Captain

“The Access machine, I think, would be a necessity for anyone in a wheel-chair that really wants to go out and get a good workout.”

Teri FourinerWheelchair Cyclist

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Enabling the grips to travel up and down pivoting arms provides a new level of customization that was previ-ously unavailable on one machine.

All of the interactions with The Access have been designed to eliminate the need for dexterity. Many ‘wheelchair accessible’ machines accommodate only to the physical size of the chair but not the limited dexterity of the user.

patent pending

E X E R C I S E T R A N S I T I O N S

Problem: Articulating arms are often engaged through the use of pulling a pin. These pins require an extreme amount of dexterity and thus can become a struggle.

Solution: One touch buttons allow the user to engage and disengage the arms for easy articulation. The arms are counterbalanced for a weightless transition. This enables the user to seamlessly switch between exercises with limited effort.

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G R I P M A N A G E M E N T

Problem: Often, dexterity impairment prevents the user to have the strength to hold onto their grips while perform-ing exercises.

Solution: Hand cuffs are available to help assist in grip when the users’ dex-terity isn’t strong enough. A padded hook is sewn into a traditional cuff. Each cuff includes a sewn loop that enables quadriplegics to easily attach and remove when desired.

patent pending

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A C C E S S O R Y M A N A G M E N T

Problem: A carabiner is an industry standard to attach and remove different grip accessories. These clips require an extreme amount of dexterity and often require two hands to stabilize and attach.

Solution: The carabiner was replaced with a nearly closed, round hook. When in the neutral state, the hook is stabilized, allowing for one handed adjustments. Accessories attach with a simple ring.

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W E I G H T T R A N S I T I O N S

Problem: In order to change weight resistance, a pin is required to be pulled out from the stack and then placed in the desired weight. These pins are often hard to remove, are mis-placed or simply broken.

Solution: Through electronics, select-ing the desired weight is accomplished with a simple push of a button. This eliminates the need for the dexterity required with traditional machines.

patent pending

W H E E L C H A I R S T A B I L I T Y

Problem: When exercising in a wheel-chair, the chair has a tendency to tip and become unstable.

Solution: Two hooks on retractable cords are located in each leg. These hooks attach to any part of a wheel-chair. Once placed, hit the lock button to prevent wheelchair movement and tipping.

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P A D A D J U S T A B I L I T Y

Problem: Pads are essential for stabil-ity and proper form. There are numer-ous locations and situations where a pad is needed. Multiple pads are awkward. Pad adjustments are driven by engaging and disengaging a pin. Once again, someone with limited dexterity struggles.

Solution: A single pad functions as a lap, chest and back pad. Using electron-ics, one touch buttons located on each side allow for complete adjustment. One button enables the pad to move forward and backward while the other enables articulation from the base.

patent pending

S E A T M A N A G E M E N T

Problem: Fixed seats become a large problem when someone in a wheel-chair wants to use a machine. Cur-rent solutions put the seat’s removal mechanism in hard to reach areas. All of them use the same pin configura-tion that once again, requires a large amount of dexterity.

Solution: A removable seat rolls and locks into the center tower allowing able-bodied usage. To release the lock- ing mechanism and remove the seat, pull on the strap located in the front.

SIMPLE DESIGN SIMPLE SOLUTION

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patent pending

“Simple design. Simple solution. Very thorough design process. This entry quickly became the standard by which all other entries were evaluated.”

Jonathon Kemnitzer, IDSAPrincipal, KEM STUDIO

“This designer showed mastery of re-search, problem solving, design and presentation. The entry demonstrates original, comprehensive planning and top-quality presentation address-ing a problem worthy of designers’ attention.”

Gavin Ivester, IDSASenior VP & General Manager,International Footwear, PUMASIMPLE DESIGN

SIMPLE SOLUTION

S A M P L E W H E E L C H A I R E X E R C I S E S

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patent pending

S A M P L E G E R I A T R I C E X E R C I S E S

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patent pending

S A M P L E A B L E - B O D I E D E X E R C I S E S

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patent pending

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J. RYAN EDERINDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

[email protected]

513.253.6043

Special Thanks: IDSA, University of Cincinnati, Priority Designs, The Lake-shore Foundation, Brett Harbage, Teri Fournier, Blaze Sports, John Kraimer, Derrick Thayer, Alexia Garza-Mappes and my family and friends.

Thank you all for the support.

T H E A C C E S S


patent pending

T H E A C C E S S

The Access

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