BAC-Mobile for the Disabled
The BAC-1000, a mobility system for disabled children, was developed by two California parents who didn’t want their son to spend his life confined to a wheelchair after he developed cerebral palsy.
Mechanical engineer Doug Stearns and his wife, Cynde, a physical therapist, of Bakersfield, invented the prototype of the special system, the Beyond a Chair (BAC) Mobile, for their son Erik.
Luconex Inc.--a Foster City, Calif., firm that markets health care products--aided in its redesign so it could be marketed to the public for use by disabled children ages 2 to 9.
The motorized unit, which weighs 53 pounds and can be folded for storage or transport, provides standing and floor mobility and offers a tilt-in-space wheelchair for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injuries.
Maximum weight for a child using the BAC-Mobile is 65 pounds; maximum height, 52 inches.
The standing support enables children to lower themselves from standing to a prone position, and back up, with a hand control. It allows them, for example, to pick up dropped toys or other objects; a 24-inch, hand-propelled drive wheels assist the child in moving around while in a standing position.
The device has an optional jump seat ($320) so the child can sit and use the unit as a wheelchair.
Luconex President Franklin Conlan said the BAC-Mobile has been tested with cerebral palsy and spina bifida children at the Juana Briones Medical Therapy Unit in Palo Alto: “The response was positive from children who, in some cases, were able to reach out for toys for the first time.”
Luconex is developing a BAC-Mobile for disabled adults.
The children’s BAC-Mobile costs $3,200, and can be purchased through Luconex’s nationwide toll-free number, (800) 346-8447. The company has a home trial program available.
New Ironing Board Is on the Wall
If you’re tired of hauling the ironing board in and out of a closet, consider On the Wall, a folding wall-mounted board that can be set up almost instantly. It is a definite space-saver.
“I couldn’t stand the old-fashioned ironing boards that were hard to set up and hard to set down and awkward to store,” said Teddi Kessie, the board’s Sherman Oaks developer. “This one is so basically simple you can’t believe it.”
The board Kessie designed is made of wood and is 31 inches long, 13 1/2 inches wide. It comes fully assembled and includes wall-mounting hardware. Washable cotton covers for the board come in solid colors or country prints.
On the Wall board costs $37.50, including shipping and handling; $12.95 more for a cover. To order, write On the Wall, 13061 Hartsook St., Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91423; phone (818) 784-1572.
Vinyl-Covered Mat Makes Bathtub a Spa
If you want to turn your bathtub into a spa with a cushioned mat, check out the Sunbeam Luxury Spa.
This bath spa has a vinyl-covered mat that’s long enough--52 1/2 inches--to form a soft headrest and a back support. Suction cups hold the mat in place; it has 10 air- and bubble-speeds, with 750 jets and a 30-minute timer that shuts the unit off automatically.
It also features an auxiliary heater to warm the air and keep the water from cooling. Suggested retail price for the Sunbeam Luxury Spa is $175. It is available in the Los Angeles area at Service Merchandise. If you can’t find it in your area, contact Northern Electric Co., 5224 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60625; phone, (800) 635-6062.
Here’s One Way to Keep a Good Tie Down
Bugged by ties with ends that won’t stay together and flop all over your shirt? You might try the Invisible Tiestay.
This metal holder, which hides between your shirt and tie and slips over a shirt button to anchor the tie, is invisible and doesn’t damage the fabric.
It costs $16, including shipping and handling. To order, send a check or money order to H. Alan Guzik, 2011 Baltra Place, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626; phone, (714) 557-3742.
