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Allied launches MPV with under-floor sliding ramp
Allied Vehicles’ range of wheelchair accessible cars, MPVs and minibuses continues to grow with the launch of the Peugeot Liberty at this year’s Independent Living Scotland exhibition.
The Peugeot Liberty is a multi-passenger vehicle that can carry one or two wheelchair passengers. It offers a range of ramp options including the revolutionary new EasyGlide.
Available exclusively from Allied Vehicles, the new EasyGlide under-floor ramp is said to offer a dramatic leap forward in convenience. Stowed under the floor, it simply pulls out and is placed on the ground, ready for use.
The integral ramp means that frequent wheelchair users can now deploy the side ramp in a matter of seconds, with no need for lifting or fitting to the vehicle.
The neat, under-floor storage also means no loss of rear-view visibility and leaves a spacious passenger compartment with no obstructions – and of course passengers can now enter the Liberty much more quickly.
Allied Vehicles have been in the motor industry for nearly 40 years and are a supplier of specially adapted wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Accredited by the Motability Scheme, they have an extensive range of vehicles encompassing
Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen and Renault models. Allied Vehicles will demonstrate the vehicle to
you at your own home and arrange for delivery nationwide.
In addition to the Liberty EasyGlide version, the range also includes the Liberty Solo, which has side access with one-piece folding ramp and restraints for one wheelchair passenger, and the
Liberty Twin, which has rear access and can carry up to two wheelchair passengers – with one travelling alongside the driver. For a copy of the new Peugeot Liberty brochure, call 0800 916 3062. 
Sweat test finds Australian medical sheepskin is best
PEOPLE IN the UK who suffer from excessive sweating may draw hope from a new report showing Australian medical sheepskin can be effective in keeping a person’s body significantly drier.
The Shear Comfort Overlay sheepskin came top in a recent trial of 12 mattress overlays carried out by the Department of Health’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
The ability of a mattress or overlay to dissipate body heat and moisture is vital in combating excessive sweating. Moist skin conditions caused by excessive sweating are not only very uncomfortable, but can also cause the skin to break down, leading to painful pressure sores.
For the purpose of the trials, scientists compared the heat and water vapour transfer properties of the various overlays being tested, and found that the Shear Comfort Overlay had a vapour transfer rate (or the amount of sweat a product is able to absorb over a specific time) that was more than twice that of a standard NHS mattress.
One man who has already discovered the benefits of sheepskins is Geoff West, a disabled Lancashire man who earned himself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000 when he travelled from Lands End to John O’Groats and back on a scooter. “About a year
after my trip,” he explained, “I heard of the Shear Comfort skins and how they could help to control my sweating and pressure sores, so I gave it a go.
“Now I can sit in my wheelchair for long periods of time without feeling any pain in my hips. What’s more, I don’t sweat at all, which I always used to do whenever I sat on a plastic seat or lay
down on my bed or couch.”
The Shear Comfort Natural overlay is available from BES Rehab on 0845 1300 237.
Constables expands with Scotmobility
CONSTABLES MOBILITY has expanded its facilities in Scotland with the appointment of an official Motability dealership, Scotmobility.
The appointment is designed to provide Scottish customers with a more
accessible sales and service centre for Constables’ Openroad and CarChair
wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
It will enable customers to have any necessary repairs carried out on their
vehicles with minimum disruption, while a selection of Openroad conversions will
be made available for test drives.
David Constable, managing director of Constables, said: “Due to our high levels of service, we have been rewarded by being made a Motability Premium Partner. Working witth Scotmobility will enable us to continue to improve our level of customer service.”
Samba style for new power chairs
Sunrise Medical has launched two new variants of the Quickie Samba powerchair after seeing high demand throughout Europe. The new Quickie powerchairs are the Samba Kids (below) and the Samba Lite , for children and adults respectively.
The Quickie Samba Kids shares the same features of the standard Samba chair. It is easy for children to use, has excellent manoeuvrability and is said to be ideal for both outdoor and indoor use, giving children a huge amount of independence.
The chair is easy to transport and service with its straightforward de-docking mechanism. The height of the seat is adjustable to ensure that the child is completely comfortable; the batteries and controller are easily accessible
whilst sitting in the chair, and the recline and tilt mechanism is simple to use.
An innovative suspension system gives the child a high degree of comfort and traction. The chair is very compact, has a slim frame and the child can choose from one of three bright colours.
The Quickie Samba Lite is the latest addition to the range of Samba powerchairs for adults.
With a robust rigid frame, the Samba Lite can carry users up to 22 stone (140kg). The open, light frame construction gives the Samba Lite a distinctive look and it is also available in a choice of three colours.
The back angle can be adjusted between -3 and 9 degrees for optimum comfort, as can the seat (from 0-6 degrees). The depth and the width can also be altered, allowing for the most comfortable user settings to be obtained.
Sue Curtis, marketing manager for Sunrise Medical, said: “Established over 20 years ago, the Quickie range of wheelchairs is one of the most innovative on the market. We have every confidence that the new Samba Kids and Samba Lite will perform extremely well, giving users a brilliant design which offers them greater mobility.”
To request a detailed brochure, please write to: Sunrise Medical Ltd,
FREEPOST DD348, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4BR.
Luggage that takes the strain
A QUIRKY and innovative new product could make travelling a little easier.
Live Luggage is a range of powered-assisted cases that will roll along beside you, driven by small motors in the wheels, and will even travel uphill. Three years in the making, this state-of-the-art system has been designed and engineered by a team of industrial and electronic experts, who were given the task of producing
luggage fit for the modern world – and they will surely help some disabled people unable to carry or pull their own bags.
Power assistance with pan wheel motors does not mean the case is heavy as today’s technology allows it to be light, strong and reliable. The total weight of the power wheels is only about the same as a couple of mobile phones, and equally
importantly, no luggage space is taken up inside the case by any of the drive mechanisms.
This product claims to redefine the traveller’s adaptability and freedom to go anywhere. In addition, at a time when the travel industry is imposing more weight restrictions, and the traditional “trunk” case is not compatible with luggage handlers and users, a lightweight, hassle-free suitcase is sure to be popular.
The Live Luggage system has a single pull-to-open, pushto- close latch, adjustable to the height of the user. A simple collapsible handle on the top face of the suitcase is used for helping it up steps and curbs.
For safety, the handle incorporates an on/off mechanism, and a dead man’s handle that cuts the power to the wheels if the grip on the handle is released. The
drive commands to the wheels are controlled with software and react to the feedback delivered by the user, detecting minute changes in direction and speed. An option of castors or rigid supports for the case when resting in a vertical plane will be offered, as will the ability to incorporate decorative decals on the wheels. The cases even incorporate a mini umbrella.
To view more information, visit www.liveluggage.com
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