Symmetrikit Low User manual

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Patents Pending
Symmetrikit
CHAIR
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Low, Medium and Large models
from Januar 2014
S mmetrikit is a division of The Helping Hand Compan
Brom ard Road, Ledbur HEREFORDSHIRE HR8 1NS, UK
Tel: [phone] Fax [phone]
Email: sal[email protected] www.helpinghand.co.uk

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Introduction 3
Guarantee
Cautions
4
Safet Instructions 5
Adjustments -
Operational
6
Special Positions 12
Growth 14
Swing Out Arms 15
Care Instructions 16
Accessories 17
Notes 23
In order for the user to be well supported it is essential
that the seating system be adjusted properly to fit. The
following guide will explain how to simply adjust the chair
and give tips on correct settings.

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INTR DUCTI N
Your S mmetrikit chair has been designed specificall for the use of those
who require maximum support in order to maintain their comfort and posture.
Great care has been taken to ensure that our chair is simple to use and eas
to maintain.
Should ou have an questions about positioning, please contact our
therapist.
Your chair is the most versatile chair available and has many
adjustments including:
♦ Arms which can be independentl adjusted in height. The can also be tilted,
swivelled in and out and moved in and out.
♦ Fold down arms for access.
♦ The seat width and seat length can be altered.
♦ Adjustable back height with K photic adjustment.
♦ Adjustable recline.
♦ Adjustable headrest .
♦ Adjustable leg rest.
♦ Adjustable footrest height and angle.
♦ True Tilt in Space. (The chair can be tilted back or forward without altering
ankle/knee/hip/back angles).
♦ Your chair can be used flat for side l ing, prone, and supine positions.
Combined with the tilt in space, ‘Head Down’ positions can be used for
postural drainage.
♦ Covers can be removed for machine washing or wiped clean in situ.
♦ Seat Cushion can be easil removed for cleaning.

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GUARANTEE
The above chair, including upholster and covers, is guaranteed against fault materials
and fault workmanship for a period of TWELVE MONTHS from the date of manufacture.
The guarantee is valid for fair wear and tear onl . It is not valid in cases of misuse, or
uses other than those specified in the Manufacturer's
Instruction Manual. We do not guarantee fabrics against shrinkage so please pa careful
attention to washing instructions.
Should spare covers be ordered subsequent to the purchase of this chair, we cannot
guarantee an exact colour match as d e strengths var . We
reserve the right to withdraw patterns or colours from the range, but will alwa s en-
deavour to find the closest match available.
Footplate covers are not covered in the warrant .
Certain movement patterns and behaviours ma accelerate fabric wear. This cannot be
covered b guarantee.
Please note :-
Wide arm settings and Neoglide wheels ma cause difficult in moving the chair through
narrow doorwa s.
This chair is not intended for outdoor use.
Warning
Do not allow children or pets to play with the chair at any time. Adequately
supervise children in the area near the chair.
Electric models: Always use the isolator switch when the chair is not in use.
Detach from charger before moving. The chair will not
operate with the charger plugged in. Warn visitors with children of the
potential danger of entrapment.
Safe use of your Symmetrikit Chair
These chairs are not designed for use in vehicles.
Please ensure the chairs are transported WITHOUT seated clients.
When the chair is specified for users who will rest their feet on the floor, and
do not have a foot plate, the chair must not be moved with the client sat in the
chair. Failure to follow this advice could cause injury to the client.
When selecting and issuing a piece of equipment it is the
responsibilit of the Therapist to carr out a risk anal sis on its use. This is particularl
pertinent for non-ambulant users who ma require assisted transfers.
Model
Size
Serial No
Manufactured

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This chair is capable of passive joint movement, it should only be
used following therapeutic advice.
Seating requirements ma change. The user should be regularl reassessed
to ensure that the chair is adjusted appropriatel .
It is recommended that therapists and carers complete the following
checklist when assessing the appropriate use of S mmetrikit chairs.
1. Is the users posture acceptable in the chair?
2. Are there concerns about pressure and are the being addressed?
3. Is the user considered to be safe in the chair or would harnessing be
needed to keep them safe? A posture belt is recommended at all times.
4. Does the user or others around them have an behaviours which would
render the chair unsafe?
5. Is the chair appropriate for the proposed environment?
6. When using the chair to provide different postures alwa s check the
user’s respirator competence.
Safety restrictions
Great care is taken in the design of this product to ensure that it complies
with all the appropriate safet legislation.
Please ensure that all staff are familiar with the following restrictions.
Incorrect use of this product can cause accidents.
Do not allow anyone to kneel or stand on the leg rest, arms or back
rest of this chair. Ensure that there is normal weight distribution in
the lying position.
The user must always be positioned within the wheel base of the
chair. A posture belt may be necessary to achieve this at all times.
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1) Seat depth.
To set the seat depth locate the handle at the rear of the seat.
The handle can be swung out to increase leverage. Wind the handle
clockwise to shorten the seat and anticlockwise to lengthen it.
When the seat depth is correct the back of the users calf should be around
the thickness of two fingers awa from front of the leg rest cushion.
2) Leg rest settings
Before setting the height of the foot
rest (If fitted) it is necessar to
open the zips along both sides of
the leg rest cover. The position of
the zips is indicated here.

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Inside the zips ou will find the
adjuster screws (arrowed) loosen
these with the 4mm Hex ke
supplied. The footplate can now
slide to the required height.
When the height is correct all of the
underside of the user’s thigh should
be in contact with the seat cushion.
Their feet must be flat on the foot
plate and not hanging above it.
It ma be necessar to adjust the angle of the footplate to get the user’s
foot full supported. The lever to adjust the footplate is underneath the
plate and is show in red below.
To adjust the angle, hold the front
of the plate with our right hand
and reach underneath to the handle.
Pull the handle back whilst moving
the footplate to the required angle.
It is locked when the handle is
released.
Ensure the area between the
base tilt plate is clear of
obstruction before and during
operation

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3) Leg rest angle (Power)
The angle of elevation of the leg rest
can easil be altered.
On the power chair simpl push the
button on the handset to raise or
lower the user’s legs. The green light
on the handset will illuminate during
operation, as shown below
Ensure the area around the leg rest
actuator shaft is clear of obstruction
before and during operation
4) Leg rest angle
(Manual)
To raise the manual leg
rest simpl lift to the
required angle. To
lower it locate the
handle behind the
cushion on the left side
of the chair. Shown
here in red. Lift the leg
rest slightl whilst
pulling the lever and
then lower to the
required angle. It will
lock when the lever is
released.

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5) Back Rest height.
Before setting the height it is
necessar to open the top of the
back shell as illustrated.
To do this lift the top front edge
off the Velcro and hinge the shell
back. This will expose the back
rods of the chair.
After adjustment re-fit the cover.
The back height is adjusted b loosening the clamp screws
arrowed. Once loose, lift the extending back rods up b holding
on to the chair handles and lifting upwards. The can then be
raised or lowered as required. When at the correct height,
tighten the clamps.
On the side of the right hand upright tube there are calibration
markings. When adjusting the chair compare these settings
with those on the settings chart supplied with the chair. As the
user’s requirements change record the new settings for future
reference.

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Your S mmetrikit chair can be fitted with a variet of back designs to suit
from the most simple to most complex needs. The fitting and adjustment of
these backs is described below.
6) Finger form (for complex
needs)
Before adjusting remove the back
shell b hinging down as before.
Once hinged down pull the shell
off the lower pivot pins.
To adjust the height of the
armatures, loosen the screws at
the back of the armatures labelled
A & B. Slide into position and
retighten the screws.
To alter the position of the
Armatures loosen all four Adjuster
Buttons (arrowed). The armature
can then be moved in an
direction required to support the
user. Once in the correct
position tighten the buttons using
the spanner provided. Note the
number beside each button
against the settings chart. Also
take note of the position of the
armature on the cross slide scale. This should be read from the
outer most edge of each silver bracket.
If required armatures can be
simply added or removed.
Lift the backrest cushion to allow
access to the uprights (not shown
for clarit ).
With the clamp screws tight the
armature bracket should be twisted
so that it no longer over laps the up
right. It can then be removed
forwards. Reverse this to add more.
X 2
X 2

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After adjusting a
Fingerform back or
fitting a new type
of back refit the
back shell.
To do this slot the
recesses in bottom of
the shell onto the
Velcro b the pivot
pins either side of the
back. Once fitted to
the Velcro b the pins,
hinge it up and secure
to the top bar with the
Velcro.
7) Symmetricare Backrest
The S mmetricare back module gives additional support over a
conventional chair back.
Within the cushion is a version of our Finger form technolog . To
adjust the width or shape of the back simpl bend it in to the
required position. It will then retain this shape as long as needed.
The unbent module is also shown here for reference.

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8) Back rest angle (Power)
The angle of elevation back rest can
easil be altered.
On the power chair simpl push the but-
ton on the handset to alter the users
recline angle. The green light on the
handset will illuminate during operation.
9) Back angle (Manual)
Hold the backrest firml with both hands.
Pull the left hand lever back and move to
the required angle. Release the lever
before letting go of the backrest.
On power or manual chairs the recline
angle can be read for the scale on the
lower section of the back shell on the left
hand side.
9.1) Kyphotic back angle
This hinges the back from the middle of the
back to help support those who stoop forward.
To adjust this hinge hold the nut tight with a
10mm spanner and then loosen the screw with
a Hex ke and angle as required.
Please note: Consult our therapist before
adjusting.

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10) Tilt in space
Both power and manual chairs
have a Tilt in Space function.
This allows the whole chair to
be tilted forwards or back wards
independently of any recline or
leg rest settings.
To operate the tilt on the manual
chairs, hold the backrest with both
hands and pull the right hand lever.
Move the chair to the desired angle
and release the handle.
On power chairs simpl power the
chair into the required angle b
using the handset. The green light
on the handset will illuminate during
operation.
10.1) Tilt in space
When tilting the chair keep fingers and
hands awa
from the pivot
mechanism
10.2) Tilt in space
Ensure the area under the under seat
actuator plastic cover and the base tra is
clear of obstructions before tilting the chair.
Ensure the area under the base tra is free
from obstructions before operating the tilt
mechanism

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11.1) Arm rest height
adjustment
To adjust the height of the arms,
loosen the adjuster screw move the
arm up or as required.
Retighten the screw when the arm is
at the correct height.
On the vertical post there is a calibra-
tion scale. This will not be visible on
the lowest setting of the arm.
11.2) Arm rest angle adjustment.
If required the back of the armrest can be raised to give additional trunk
support.
To adjust this angle, remove knob A and loosen knob B. B moving the
back of the armrest in towards the middle of the chair it is disengaged. It
can then be moved to the required angle and reengaged in the support.
To lock tighten both knobs .
NB You ma find it easier to
fold the arm out first– see next
panel.
11) Arm rest width
adjustment (Seat Width)
To adjust the width between
the arms, loosen the adjuster
screws move the arm in or out
as required. There is a
calibration marking on the
horizontal post attached to the
arm for ou to check against
our settings chart.
B
A

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12) Swing out arms
Firstl ensure that the chair
occupants are clear of the folding
arm mechanism before operating.
To allow eas access the whole
arm can easil be swung out of
the wa . To move the arm
unscrew the nut towards the back
of the chair with our hand.
After a few turns, the arm will start
to hinge outwards, tucking neatl
beside the chair frame.
Relocating the arm is done b
hinging it firml back up and
retightening the nut. Ensure that
the nut is full secure before use.

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Care instructions:-
Regular maintenance will ensure that our chair gives man ears of reliable service.
We recommend that the chair is inspected and serviced annuall . In cases where the
chair is subject to excessive loads i.e. used b a person with repetitive or destructive
movement patterns that the chair is inspected monthl .
Ensure the area around the castors is clear before and during moving the chair.
Cleaning:-
Covers:-
All of the covers are removable for cleaning or can be wiped down in situ. If the outer
covers are removed for washing the chair can still be used as all the cushions are either
closed cell foam or have water proof covers.
All of the fabrics are Teflon treated for eas cleaning and are waterproof. The can be
washed at 40°C using a mild detergent. Do not iron, dr clean, bleach or tumble dr .
Frames:-
The frame of the chair can be cleaned b wiping down with a mild disinfectant solution.
If necessar it can be steam cleaned but it must be thoroughl dried before use.
Battery maintenance:-
There is a power switch below the arm pivot on the right hand side of the chair which
will need to be turned on to allow operation . It ma be necessar to raise the fabric
valance to see. it.
The batter of our chair has been designed to give a good working time be-
tween charges but it must be charged regularl . The batter has a low charge
audible warning to indicate when a recharge is required. When the batter is in
need of charging a buzzer will sound when an button is pressed on the hand-
set. A full charge from a flat batter should take no more than 8 hours. How-
ever, it is recommended that the battery is charged on a weekly basis.
In order to protect the batteries the chair will not operate when the voltage gets
too low.
To protect the unit from damage there is
also a reset/trip switch fitted. If the unit
stops working, firstl check the power
switch is on. Locate the reset/trip switch
as shown above and push the button to
reset it.

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ACCESS RIES
A) Big Wheel Kit
For those who require the securit of extra
stabilit while sitting in our chair, we
provide a big wheel kit option.
The breaking s stem differs to the smaller
castors.
To engage the brake, press our foot
down on the brake plate.
Sliding our foot under the brake plate
and lifting will release the brake.
The charger allows ou to use the chair in an emergenc if the batter is
flat. Simpl connect the charger as specified in the previous section
Powering the chair off the mains in an emergency
When recharging use only the charger provided with your chair.
Ensure the cable is connected to the socket in the charger and then connect
the other end to the charge socket at the back of the chair. Marr up the two
pins from the charger to the two pins in the charge socket from the chair, click
together, plug the charger into the our electrical suppl and turn on to charge.
A green light will illuminate on the charger when the power is on.
As a safet feature, the mains cable will disconnect from the charger if the chair
is pulled awa whilst still connected to the mains. Simpl un-plug from the
mains suppl and re-connect the cable to the charger if this occurs.

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B) Pommels
There are two alternative
pommels available for the
chair. These var in width
to allow for the
requirements of different
users.
The pommel is fitted b
sliding the lower tube into
the socket provided in the
seat frame. To remove it
simple depress the red
knob illustrated below.
Should it be necessar to change
the pommel head size or adjust
the height of the pommel first
locate screw 1. Once this is
loosened, the pommel head and
the upper bracket can then be
moved up, down or removed
altogether.
Once in the correct position simpl
tighten the screw.

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C) Harnesses
PLEASE FAMILARISE Y URSELF WITH THESE PR DUCTS BEF RE USE.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT C RRECT HARNESS FIXINGS ARE FULLY
UNDERST D.
C1) Lap Strap
Standard or padded
To fit the standard or padded lap strap first
remove the seat cushion and then
locate the rear seat mounting straps.
Take the strap end fittings and attach
around the seat mounting using the Velcro
fixings provided.
The main part of the strap can then be
fitted through the cam buckles at either
end and adjusted for length.
The side release buckle can then be
released read for use.

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C2) 4 Point Lap Strap
Standard or padded
The standard lap strap is used to secure the client within the chair with
minimal intrusion. Clients prone to involuntar movements ma benefits
from the more restrictive 4 point lap strap in order to provide additional
securit .
Remove the seat cushion and locate
the rear and side seat mountings.
Secure the strap with the Velcro
fixings, ensuring the ‘back’ labels are
on the rear straps.
The buckle can now be
released read for use.
Once the client is
seated, connect the
buckle and adjust the
strap to suit.
Refit the seat cushion and pass the strap
ends around the sides.
Check that the strap is fitted correctl , b
ensuring the main strap runs horizontall
across the cushion.