Abstract: When people fall they tend to fall on their side. This can lead to them breaking their femur particularly at the head around the trochantheric region. The head of the femur includes a portion called the greater trochanter which projects outwards and which is covered by very little flesh. A pad for use in protecting trochantheric region of the body comprises at least two separate layers, a substantially rigid layer, and a layer of dense, closed-cell resilient foam material. The substantially rigid layer includes a protecting boss which, in use, is located in the region of the greater trochanter to increase the spacing between the outside of the rigid layer and the greater trochanter. Preferably, the layer of closed-cell foam material extends over a greater area than the substantially rigid layer so that the periphery of the rigid layer lies entirely within the periphery of the foam layer.

Abstract: Wheelchairs typically have a pair of side frames consisting of upright tubular members at the front and back joined by tubular top and bottom rails. Castor type wheels are swivellably mounted at the lower end of the front upright members and the rear upright members are usually connected directly or indirectly to rear wheels of the wheelchair. A joint at the bottom front corner of the side frame comprises a moulded connector having a generally tubular portion which fits over the end of the upright and includes a projecting spigot which fits inside the lower tubular rail. The connector includes a reinforcing web extending between the top of the spigot and the tubular portion and a lower supporting lug. The end of the rail is shaped to fit around and embrace the reinforcing web and the supporting lug.

Abstract: A folding wheelchair includes a pair of side frames which are collapsible in their own planes. There is simultaneous collapse of two pairs of strut members. The collapsed wheelchair is very compact, even though the erected wheelchair is very reliable due, at least in part, to its avoidance of areas of high stress concentration. In alternatives, the scissor-like strut members are replaced by fixed struts so that collapse in the height direction is not accompanied by collapse in the width direction.