There is a reason why a wheelchair is named a wheelchair and without the wheels it is, well, only a chair.  

Within my lifetime I have experienced my share of cramming a number of wheelchairs into the trunks or backseats of cars and when it comes to wheelchairs, no matter how light or high-tech they may be, the most pain-in-the-neck part of the wheelchair to fit into a train, plane, or automobile are the wheels.  Many times trying to get a folded-up wheelchair into a car trunk or just the quick-release wheels into the back car seat is like literally trying to put a round peg into a square hole.  

Now there is a reprieve to all the shoulder and back straining, all the sweating and expletives, and all the damage done to wheelchair wheels in the past.  Invented by Duncan Fitzsimmons while he was a graduate student at the Royal College of Arts in London, then further developed by Maddak, Inc. after much consultation with the wheelchair community and various therapists, a revolutionary new wheelchair wheel of the future, the Morph Folding Wheelchair Wheels, are now starting to roll around the world.

A folding wheelchair wheel is not new because, unfortunately, I folded a few wheelchair wheels in the past when I slammed the car trunk lid down on them, bending the frame in the process.  But having a folding wheelchair wheel that is supposed to fold is like reinventing the wheel all over again.  The Morph™ Folding Wheelchair Wheels are the first ever foldable wheelchair wheels for those users who like to get out and about in the world, and for those who have to go to doctor appointments and other outings such as restaurants and family gatherings.  Folding to a compact 32 inches by 12.5 inches, or approximately half the size of an open wheel, the ability to simply fold these wheels ‘flat’ has greatly increased the ease of travel for the wheelchair user.

When transporting a wheelchair, the part of the wheelchair that is most prone to damage is the wheel section. Either by slamming a car trunk down on them or having a baggage handler tossing the wheelchair into the belly of the plane or train, the wheels will suffer most from the consequences.  Now with the use of the Morph wheels, a wheelchair user can simply have the tires easily removed from the wheelchair and have them placed in the luggage space above the plane or train seat, or simply placed in the seat of a taxi or small car with no damage done to the wheels. 

Folding the Morph Folding Wheelchair Wheels are only half the story behind these incredible wheels.  The safety and ease-of-use makes these wheels even better.  The Morph™ Wheels come complete with a polypropylene rim, push rim, and solid, glass-filled nylon tires which weigh in at 7.5 pounds and offer a weight capacity of 300 pounds.  They can also be taken off and put back on within seconds with a standard quick release axle.  Featuring a fail-safe mechanism that will prevent the wheels from folding when in use as long as the axle is through the hub of the wheel, there is no possibility of this wheel folding up when an individual is actively using the wheelchair.  The Morph™ Wheels have also passed the RESNA/ANSI impact, curb drop, and double drum test standards of safety so any concerns of folding while rolling are gone.

Whenever traveling for business, around the town or countryside, or to your favorite vacation destination, the Morph™ Wheels can make it easier to get the wheelchair in and out of the car or taxi while reducing the wear and tear of lifting and trying to fit wheeled wheelchairs into limited storage space.  The Morph Wheels can fit into overhead bins on planes, busses, or trains, and most importantly reduce the risk of wheel damage or loss.

The remake of the wheel has occurred and the future is now the present with Morph™ Folding Wheelchair Wheels.  They will allow a wheelchair user to boldly go where round wheelchair tires were not allowed to go before, to explore brave new worlds and space compartments, and to seek out new and easier ways to travel. 

Bill Stock
Executive Editor,
Content & Social Media Services
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO