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Technology might finally be keeping pace with rehab patients whose spirits and energy require a sturdier wheelchair to explore the world and enjoy the outdoors, beyond the confines of a smooth hospital hallway. Thanks to Lovejoy ROSTA rubber suspension elements DR 27 x 60, combined with other engineering marvels, a new “Turbo-Twist” wheelchair maintains its equilibrium over rough surfaces such as pavement edges, unpaved road, or roots and embedded stones in forest preserve pathways. 

The Swiss company DEGONDA-Rehab SA recently launched its new “Turbo-Twist” wheelchair for unpaved roads, to safely transport its rider over and through rough surfaces, while compensating for uneven grades and gently absorbing all impacts thanks to its variety of elastic suspensions.

DEGONDA-Rehab SA turned to ROSTA suspension elements, which joined the great efficiency of today’s generation of gel batteries, joystick controls and powerful, continuously regulated electrical gear motors to help create this new “off-road” vehicle. Its creation opens up a broader world of exploration for rehab patients and those wheelchair-bound, in addition to providing greater comfort and an improved degree of safety.

Generally, pavement edges, unpaved roads, roots and embedded stones often limit the use of these rehabilitation vehicles and virtually bar any sort of enjoyment or motion in local recreation areas and forests.

Proper suspension over uneven surfaces was one key factor. A total of 6 ROSTA rubber suspension elements of the DR 27 x 60 size help to maintain the equilibrium of the “Turbo-Twist”, and its rider over all irregular surfaces.

An important factor in the compensation of unevenness and pavement edges is the H-flex suspension with two pairs of rollers, which has been patented by DEGONDA. The protruding, smaller pair of rollers “climbs” over the obstacle, and the following pair of supporting rollers swivels out via the ROSTA spring suspension and harmoniously matches the running surfaces to the new level of the path.

The further functions of the ROSTA rubber suspension elements in the “Turbo-Twist” feature the H-flex suspension; and the elastic ROSTA suspension on both sides of the rear safety support wheel, which, through the suspension, balances out the movements of the chair chassis when negotiating obstacles. There is also an elastic knee support on both sides of the rider, which allow some limited reciprocal movement of the leg extremities when travelling over obstructions.

“There are countless examples of ROSTA suspension units in operation at industrial sites around the globe,” says Krister Meister, Marketing Manager, “yet we feel a deep sense of satisfaction when we hear about applications like this that truly provide a gift to humanity and opens up new freedoms for those who are restricted to wheelchairs.”

To learn more about Lovejoy ROSTA engineered suspension units, visit the website at www.lovejoy-inc.com, or call the corporate office number. Lovejoy, Inc. is certified under the ISO-9001:2000 International Standards for Quality Management. Lovejoy, Inc., World Headquarters are located at 2655 Wisconsin Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. Phone 630-852-0500; fax 630-852-2120; email inquiries info@lovejoy-inc.com.