Posts Tagged ‘Remote control’

Sterling Stairlifts – The Best Handicapped Stairlift

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Minivator Limited, the owner of Sterling Stairlifts, is renowned for manufacturing and designing stairlifts that are sold in many countries across the world. The company makes both straight and curved versions. They also come with a slim and sleek finish and are designed to be compact. They are equipped with all the safety standards that conform to the industry norms and have all the standard security features.

The company’s appliances have been designed with the customers needs especially for user who are handicapped or have mobility problems. Sterling stairlifts provide excellent support with their perch seat for those who cannot lift their knee and can still travel in a comfortable position. The narrow look and the slim design of the unit also leaves more free passage for others and the seat can be fitted pretty close to the wall.

You can get all the standard features such as, seat belt, remote control options, power footrest, safety sensors, smooth operating toggle and comfortable armrests. The chair lifts run on 24v DC batteries so they can still be operating even during power outages.

Acorn Stairlift and Sterling Stairlift – A comparison

Both company’s stairlifts have similar features such as the essential safety features you’d expect, sleek and slim design, space saving seats giving more passage space, and safety sensors that detect any kind of obstruction. In addition to all these features, Sterling stairlifts offer better quality seats which are ergonomically designed There is also a good choice of upholstery colors which you can choose for the seats based on your home décor.

An additional feature found in both Sterling and Acorn stairlifts is the digital display feature which shows the exact status of the lift to the user. It provides diagnostic information of your stairlift in case there is any kind of technical failure. With an Acorn chair lift, you have a choice of an infrared remote control and a mechanical paddle switch which can be controlled by the user. Sterling provides an option of two remote controls which manages the power hinge option as well.

All in all, there’s very little to choose between them in term of technical specifications. However, there is one major factor that distinguishes these brands. Acorn only manufactures straight stairlifts whereas Sterling manufacture both straight and curved versions.

Sterling 1000 & 2000 series stairlifts

The 1000 is meant to be used on straight stairways and is designed to give extra support to those with limited mobility. Comfortable padded swivel seats, sterling control switch, space saving seats with folding arms are exclusively designed for this purpose. Options include a seat belt and a perch seat which can extremely helpful for people who have knee related problems.

The 2000 series is ideal for curved stairways and can be used even on spiral stairways. It utilizes the best curved track and can be closely fitted to the wall, which leaves a lot of free space on the stairs.

Sterling stairlifts come with a one-year service warranty with 5-year product warranty provided for motor and gearbox. They are, without doubt, one of the best brands on the market.

Sterling Stairlifts – The Best Handicapped Stairlift

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Minivator Limited, the owner of Sterling Stairlifts, is renowned for manufacturing and designing stairlifts that are sold in many countries across the world. The company makes both straight and curved versions. They also come with a slim and sleek finish and are designed to be compact. They are equipped with all the safety standards that conform to the industry norms and have all the standard security features.

The company’s appliances have been designed with the customers needs especially for user who are handicapped or have mobility problems. Sterling stairlifts provide excellent support with their perch seat for those who cannot lift their knee and can still travel in a comfortable position. The narrow look and the slim design of the unit also leaves more free passage for others and the seat can be fitted pretty close to the wall.

You can get all the standard features such as, seat belt, remote control options, power footrest, safety sensors, smooth operating toggle and comfortable armrests. The chair lifts run on 24v DC batteries so they can still be operating even during power outages.

Acorn Stairlift and Sterling Stairlift – A comparison

Both company’s stairlifts have similar features such as the essential safety features you’d expect, sleek and slim design, space saving seats giving more passage space, and safety sensors that detect any kind of obstruction. In addition to all these features, Sterling stairlifts offer better quality seats which are ergonomically designed There is also a good choice of upholstery colors which you can choose for the seats based on your home décor.

An additional feature found in both Sterling and Acorn stairlifts is the digital display feature which shows the exact status of the lift to the user. It provides diagnostic information of your stairlift in case there is any kind of technical failure. With an Acorn chair lift, you have a choice of an infrared remote control and a mechanical paddle switch which can be controlled by the user. Sterling provides an option of two remote controls which manages the power hinge option as well.

All in all, there’s very little to choose between them in term of technical specifications. However, there is one major factor that distinguishes these brands. Acorn only manufactures straight stairlifts whereas Sterling manufacture both straight and curved versions.

Sterling 1000 & 2000 series stairlifts

The 1000 is meant to be used on straight stairways and is designed to give extra support to those with limited mobility. Comfortable padded swivel seats, sterling control switch, space saving seats with folding arms are exclusively designed for this purpose. Options include a seat belt and a perch seat which can extremely helpful for people who have knee related problems.

The 2000 series is ideal for curved stairways and can be used even on spiral stairways. It utilizes the best curved track and can be closely fitted to the wall, which leaves a lot of free space on the stairs.

Sterling stairlifts come with a one-year service warranty with 5-year product warranty provided for motor and gearbox. They are, without doubt, one of the best brands on the market.

The History of the Stairlift

Monday, August 24th, 2009

First designed for victims of polio the initial commercial stairlift was created by the Inclinator Company of America in the 1930’s. The design itself however was adapted from a rudimentary unit that was made in the 1920’s by a Pennsylvanian inventor named C.C. Crispen. A self taught engineer, Crispen was inspired to create the unit for a friend who had difficulty getting up and down the stairs of his own home. He managed to develop a working prototype of the device that soon became the foundation for the modern lift.

Even so, there are many who claim that the stairlift is not an American invention at all and dates back to the era of King Henry the VIII. The crude device was crafted after the king injured himself in a jousting accident and consisted of a block and tackle system that was hauled by several servants.

Whoever was credited with the actual invention, many companies have been able to improve on the design offering a variety of styles and systems for individuals in need of assisted in home mobility.

The greatest of these innovations was the addition of various types of rail systems. The basic premise of the rail system is to create a reliable pulley station/port for the actual chairs. The rail can be made of aluminum or steel and is placed on the wall alongside the stairs in question. Rails can come flat or curved and are chosen based on the design of the stairwell.

Ramps made out of aluminum or steel are also a welcome addition to the device, providing a new option for those who have wide and/or small steps where a rail system may not be as necessary.

The basic design of rails or ramp platforms has not changed over time but the carriage system has evolved to become far more efficient and to deliver a smoother ride. The cable and chain drive mechanism was the very first type of carriage system used for the stairlift. This mechanism was later improved upon via a rack and pinion system which utilizes a pair of gears that engage the teeth of a flat bar (the rack). The system usually engages a circular rotation that helps the gears move the chair up or down.

With these bases, stairlift manufactures were able to come up with numerous types of units that would improve the lives of those who needed to move about but had difficulty doing so for a number of reasons.

Early systems concentrated on affixing wheelchairs to rails but specially made lift chairs soon followed. If you are wheelchair dependant, the former choice would be best as you are more familiar with this type of transport. Drawbacks-the wheelchair systems have to be built to order, are harder to install and can be more expensive than a simple chair lift. One should weigh the wheelchair versus simple chairlift option before making a firm decision in this regard.

In the beginning, the focus of the design was primarily on indoor maneuverability but modern units can be utilized both in and out of doors. Some restaurants and businesses even have outdoor models installed for the convenience of their customers.

Easy to access and use switches, toggles and buttons have evolved over time as well culminating in electric and remote controlled devices that make navigating the chairs even easier. The speed of the chairs can also be controlled, putting even more control in the hands of the chair user. Another modern convenience that comes with the purchase of a contemporary stairlift is a warranty that protects the purchaser in the event of disrepair.

The stairlift has evolved since the days of King Henry VIII and some can even be easily installed by the buyer. With these units becoming even more affordable the elderly or those with debilitating conditions can maintain a greater degree of autonomy with ease and tremendous style.

Who Could Benefit From a Stairlift?

Friday, July 31st, 2009

If you have trouble up and down stairs, then go to bed and wake up in the morning can be hard work. Maybe they decided to sleep instead of down.

Once it has become too difficult to climb stairs, you might decide that the house must be reorganized so that there is a fourth bedroom and bath down, or if you decide to go to a bungalow with no stairs to climb.

Another option is a stairlift. Ladder can provide a great amount of freedom and independence, and may mean that there is no need to move house to a bungalow, or build an extension, or convert into other rooms of the house. A stairlift can be installed quickly and easily in a couple of hours so that the discomfort is minimal and can be recovered using all the rooms of the house.

Stair lifts are available in different lengths to suit different stairway. When you decide to have a stairlift installed, a qualified person who visits the house to measure the length and angle of the stairs, and check that there is sufficient space for the stairlift at the top and bottom of the stairs. The questions should cover topics such as if you are the right hand or left, if you can lift your feet to step height, if you have difficulties to get out of a chair to the normal height, and the nature of the problem that causes problems getting up and down. Depending on the style of the house and stairlift, doors and power points will be taken into account.

If there is a door at the bottom of the stairs, a rule that prevents the door from the track and be a danger. A hinged ramp solves this problem. With a manual hinge track, the stairlift is sent back up the ladder, and then the hinge track has to be collected by hand. An automatic monitor hinge is folded back automatically using the remote control.

Modern staircase are quiet, reliable and are controlled by a remote user-friendly. This command can be in either armrest to meet user needs, depending on the make and model of stairlift. At least one remote control handset is usually made with the stairlift, so that the stairlift can be called at the top or the bottom of the stairs, and is ideal if you have two or more users.

The seat and footrest are comfortable, and help provide a smooth ride. Stairs have a soft start and stop design, so there is no shock as the stairlift starts and stops. The seat will swivel and lock into place to help raise and lower the stairlift. Escalera have park which are usually points at each end of the runway, and possibly in half if a track curve. The stairlift recharges the battery when in the park points, so that the stairlift is always charged and ready to use. If the stairlift is parked in a different place from the point of a park, the stairlift will beep to let the user know to park correctly.

In the case of a power outage, the built in battery backup system ensures that the user is never stuck at the top or bottom of the stairs. This battery backup is usually enough for about ten trips. The stairlift is likely to have a self-diagnostic screen, so that in the unlikely event of a malfunction, the engineer can remedy the lack stairlift quickly and easily, usually by phone. This method also avoids having to wait for an engineer to visit the house, leaving the stairlift out of action for a while.

With a sitting and standing stairlift, you can choose to sit in the seat and travel up and down stairs normally, or lifted up and down stairs. The choice of support can be beneficial for those who have trouble bending their knees, or where there may be two or more users with different needs. If the width of the stairs to the traditional stairlift is not suitable, the user’s legs or not to allow the user to sit correctly, then a perch stairlift could be more appropriate. A lift allows the user to perch on perch stairlift safety and has the same security features. The seat and footrest stairlift usually times away, and a perch seat is very narrow, so that the stairlift is not intrusive for other people climbing the stairs.

Modern safety features mean that the stairlift will not operate if the carriage hits an obstruction on the stairs, or seat, footrest and armrest are not in the correct positions, and always stop when it reaches the top and bottom of stairs . A lockable isolation switch prevents unauthorized use of the stairlift, which can be used when children are visiting, for example.

It is important to check that the stairlift has the latest security features and technology. For example, without an excessive speed, (OSG), the stairlift could quickly descend the stairs in the event of a component or system failure. Other safety features include a swivel seat, so you can go up and down safely, and DC power. CC means no trailing cord, and so there is no danger of electric shock.

Ladder outdoors are also available to overcome the steps to the front door or garden, for example. Besides being specially designed and suitable for outdoor use, the majority of the outdoor stairs are very similar to internal stairs. Also, be as quiet and comfortable than their counterparts in the interior, and provide the same safety and comfort.

A lift of a ladder staircase curve is often very expensive, and generally will be much cheaper, where possible, have two straight staircases and some way of transferring between the two, rather than a curved stairlift.

A stairlift can be beneficial and make a big difference. Why not see how you can help?