For wheelchair users who drive, transporting a folding wheelchair can take up valuable trunk space and may require lifting the chair into the vehicle. Ming Ao’s roof-mounted wheelchair storage device takes a different approach by storing the folded wheelchair on the roof of the car.
The electric system is designed to lower the wheelchair beside the driver’s door at the push of a button. After the wheelchair is retrieved, the carrier folds back up and locks onto the roof.
A Wheelchair Stored on the Roof
Instead of placing a folding wheelchair inside the trunk, the system uses a rooftop enclosure designed specifically for storing a folding wheelchair. The device is installed using the car’s roof racks and is designed to be suitable for most car models on the market. It is also available for both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive vehicles.
This arrangement leaves the vehicle’s interior and trunk available for their normal uses while providing a dedicated location for the folded wheelchair.
Electric Lowering and Retrieval
The wheelchair carrier is electrically operated. With the push of a button, the mechanism lowers the wheelchair from the roof to a position beside the driver’s door. Buttons control both the lifting and lowering operations. A buzzer provides an audible alert while the carrier is being lifted or lowered, helping indicate that the mechanism is in operation.
For storage, the carrier takes approximately 50 seconds to complete its operation. Retrieval takes approximately 45 seconds.
A Seat That Moves Out of the Car
The system can also be used with a driver’s seat that slides out of the vehicle and lowers to approximately wheelchair height. This allows the driver to move from the car seat into the wheelchair beside the vehicle. Once the transfer is complete, the empty seat can be moved back inside the car at the push of a button.
The sequence combines the wheelchair carrier with the moving driver’s seat, reducing the need to manually lift the wheelchair into the vehicle.
Powered From the Vehicle
The wheelchair storage device is powered by the vehicle. Power can be supplied through the car’s socket or a power outlet in the trunk. According to the provided specifications, the system does not require modifications to the vehicle’s electrical system.
The stated power supply is DC 12 volts with a current requirement of 10 amps.
Designed Around a Folding Wheelchair
The rooftop enclosure is intended for storing a folding wheelchair. The maximum lifting capacity is specified at 28 kilograms. The complete device weighs approximately 50 kilograms.
Because the system is installed on roof racks rather than directly modifying the vehicle’s electrical system, its design is intended to work with the existing vehicle setup while providing powered wheelchair storage.
A Rooftop Approach to Wheelchair Transportation
Ming Ao’s roof-mounted wheelchair storage device moves wheelchair storage outside the vehicle rather than using the trunk. Its electric carrier lowers the folded wheelchair beside the driver’s door, while the moving driver’s seat provides a way to position the driver at wheelchair height for transfer.
With button-controlled lifting, lowering, and seat movement, the system combines wheelchair transportation and vehicle access into one setup designed around greater independence.
The key specifications include a 12V, 10A power supply, a 28-kilogram maximum lifting capacity, a 50-kilogram device weight, approximately 50 seconds for storage, and approximately 45 seconds for retrieval.
Source: Ming Ao
