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Daughter inspires funky wheelchair

A man whose company specialises in aircraft technology has just launched a 'designer' wheelchair that was originally made for his daughter.

Richard Smith was so frustrated by the lack of suitable wheelchairs that he decided that he could do a better job himself.

"A lot of companies aren't prepared to put in much production investment, but I also think there's a lack of imagination," Mr Smith told BBC News Online.

Mr Smith, from Leominster, Herefordshire, hired two graduates in industrial design and worked with them to produce the Chunc.

"I started working on this three years ago, when Sophie, who was then 12, started to have to use a much bigger wheelchair.

"And I frankly found the products that she was using too heavy, too cumbersome, not really fit for the purpose and quite stigmatising as well."

The Chunc is on show at Naidex 2004 - an exhibition of products for disabled people - at the NEC in Birmingham.

Growing chair

The HR Smith Group has come up with a wheelchair that uses bold colours and lightweight composite materials resulting in something that has a similar appeal to a Swatch, a Smart Car or a Dyson vacuum cleaner.

"All the parts are individually designed even down to the nuts and bolts, so when you put it together you have a wheelchair that actually looks as though someone's thought about it," said Mr Smith.

The chair is designed to 'grow' with the user, and will require periodical adjustments as the child develops.

It folds so that it can be carried in the boot of a family hatchback.

The Chunc has been crash-tested for people weighing up to 54kg and has just been put on the NHS list of approved wheelchairs.

Buying it privately would cost around £1500.

The next stage, according to Richard Smith, will be to refine the design and increase the maximum weight to 75kg.

"We're hoping to complete that work next year," he said.

Asked whether he has his sights on other areas of the disability market, Mr Smith said a lot of interest has been expressed in a powered version of the Chunc.

"Let's get this one right first though, and supply all of those people who've expressed an interest."

Posted by thinkum at May 14, 2004 02:47 PM