Researchers have developed an innovative design for a wheelchair that can more easily navigate on soft and uneven outdoor terrain such as grass and gravel. The chair uses three wheels — two wheels in the front (approximately the same size as the rear wheels on a traditional four-wheeled chair), and a third wheel in the back that is roughly two-thirds as tall as the front wheels.

The relatively large size of all three wheels makes it easier to maneuver over a variety of surfaces, and the back wheel can pivot 360 degrees for easy turning. The design is very stable, and the overall chair occupies a footprint only slightly larger than traditional designs. In addition to enhanced performance outdoors, the chair is also ideal for situations where the occupant of the chair is larger than the person pushing the chair.

In the three-wheeled, all-terrain wheelchair design, the third wheel is large compared to competing designs, and is stable and able to traverse a variety of terrains.

The chair is easy to maintain and lightweight because it does not require electronics or complex machinery. Additional features include bicycle-style brakes and a wheel ratchet design that can be activated to prevent the chair from rolling backwards. The design empowers wheelchair occupants to access new terrain or greatly reduce the effort required to reach previously challenging locations.

For more information, contact Theresa Baus at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 401-832-8728.