Invacare Adjustable Back Upholstery User Manual

Adjustable Back Upholstery

Assembly, Installation and Operating Instructions

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: Check all parts for shipping damage. In case of
damage, DO NOT use. Contact Carrier/Invacare for fur­ther instructions.

SAFETY SUMMARY

The following recommendations are made for the
safe and proper installation and use of the Oxygen
Holder:

GENERAL WARNINGS

DO NOT install this equipment without first read­ing and understanding this instruction sheet. If you
are unable to understand the W arnings, Cautions
and Instructions, contact a healthcare profes­sional, dealer or technical personnel if applicable,
before attempting to install this equipment - oth­erwise, injury or damage may occur.

INST ALLATION WARNINGS

After ANY adjustments, repair or service and BE­FORE use, make sure that all attaching hardware
is tightened securely.

USER WARNINGS

After the adjustable back upholstery has been
positioned to the end user’s individual needs, the
hook and loop fasteners straps MUST be securely
fastened before applying the back upholstery
cover . The adjustable back should be checked
whenever entering the chair to ensure that the
hook and loop fasteners are securely fastened.

Y our therapist and physician should be consulted
if you have any questions regarding individual
limitations and needs.

As the needs of the individual become more com­plex, the evaluation becomes more important.

ADJUSTABLE BACK UPHOLSTERY

The adjustable back upholstery is a new feature. It is a
positioning device with numerous applications.

THE ADJUSTABLE TENSION
STRAPS.

The straps can be adjusted to various levels of tension to
accommodate individual end users. In a typical scenario,
the bottom two (2) straps can be adjusted tightly to sup­port and/or assist the extensor muscles.

The top two (2) straps would be left looser to allow the
upper body to lean back over the upholstery to fight grav­ity. This configuration may enable the back canes to be
lowered for a quad. In another instance, you might loosen
all of the straps and allow the end user to sink all the way
back into the chair. Every person will be different. Let the
therapist experiment with different positions and then
decide. It is easy to change.

THE BACK UPHOLSTERY COVER
(FIGURE 1)

The back upholstery cover is designed for three (3) rea­sons:

The first is as a modesty cover to prevent one’s posterior
from protruding out of the chair.

The second is to keep the cushion from sliding out the
back of the chair.

The third is as a sacral support depending upon how far
or tight the flap is pulled under the seat cushion.

Removing Non-Adjustable Tension Back
Upholstery

1. Cut cable tie that secures back upholstery to tab on
axle mounting place.

2. Remove lock nut and button head cap screws that
secure cane handles to frame tube.

3. Remove cane handles from frame tube.

4. Remove phillips head screws that secure upholstery
to cane handles.

5. Remove upholstery from cane tubes.

Installing Adjustable Back Upholstery

1. Slide one (1) cane handle into each section (anchor
loop/adjuster strap) of the adjustable back upholstery
with grommet hole facing the rear of the chair.

2. Secure adjustable back upholstery to cane handles
with mounting screws.

3. Set each cane in frame tube at desired height.

4. Thread screw from the outside of the frame tube through
cane handle and securely tighten with locknut.

NOTE: Clean upholstery with warm water and mild de­tergent to remove superficial soil.

5. Slip adjuster straps through corresponding anchor
loop and adjust back upholstery. Secure with hook
and loop fasteners.

1

WARNINGS

After the adjustable back upholstery has been
positioned to the end user’s individual needs, the
hook and loop fasteners MUST be securely fas­tened before applying the back upholstery
cover. The adjustable back should be checked
whenever entering the chair to ensure that the
hook and loop fasteners are securely fastened.

6. Attach back upholster cover (hook and loop fasten­ers) to the back of the adjustable back upholstery
(hook and Loop fasteners).

NOTE: Hook and loop fasteners on the back upholstery
cover and adjustable back MUST line-up.

7. Flip the back upholstery cover over adjustable back
upholstery and secure (hook and loop fasteners) to
the front of the adjustable back upholstery.

8. Lay front portion of back upholstery cover on seat
with existing cushion removed.

9. Adjust slack of back upholstery cover before replac­ing existing cushion.

Back Upholstery

Cane Handle

WHY USE ADJUSTABLE TENSION
UPHOLSTERY: A CLINICAL
DISCUSSION

The flexible sling upholstery commonly used on wheel­chairs allows the wheelchair to fold without removing rigid
components. Sling upholstery will stretch with use. Un­fortunately, stretched upholstery does not support the back
well. Stretched upholstery often allows the pelvis to drift
into posterior tilt while the back assumes a kyphotic pos­ture.

With the adjustable tension backrest, the sag can be taken
out of the sling restoring the original tightness. Adjustable
tension upholstery can also provide significant improve­ments to the seated posture and function of the wheel­chair. By changing the tension of the strap, the backrest
can be adjusted to accommodate back postures such as
kyphosis, lordosis, stabilize the pelvis and back, and pro­vide lateral stability.

In addition to restoring the sling to original tension, the
adjustable tension backrest can be adjusted to help main­tain the pelvis and back position, which can improve pos­ture, balance and function.

The wheelchair backrest should be able to follow the natu­ral anatomical contours of the back. When viewing a per­son from the side, the thoracic portion of the back will
extend posteriorly to the pelvis and buttocks (FIGURE 2).

Phillips

Head

Screw

Locknut

Button Head

Cap Screw

Frame Back Tube

Hook and

Loop

Fasteners

Back Upholstery

Anchor Loops

Tab

Cable Tie

Axle

Mounting

Plate

Back Upholstery Cover

Hook and Loop

Fasteners

Frame

Grommet Hole

Back Upholstery

Adjuster Straps

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 1 - REPLACING EXISTING UPHOLSTERY

2

When using a non-adjustable flat backrest, the top por­tion of the upholstery will usually push the trunk forward
of the center of gravity over the pelvis. To maintain the
trunk in the upright posture, the user must have and use
the back extensor musculature, or add tilt or recline to
backrest (FIGURE 3).

The best point of control for the pelvis is near the Poste­rior Superior Iliac Spine (P.S.I.S). The upper trunk should
be relined until a balance posture is achieved, approxi­mately 10 to 15 degrees (FIGURE 5).

10-15° Angle

P.S.I.S.

FIGURE 3

When using adjustable upholstery, it is possible to tighten
the lower portion of the backrest which assists in main­taining a neutral pelvis. The upper portion can then be
adjusted to follow the natural curvature of the spine bring­ing the trunk back over the pelvis in a position of balance
relative to the center of gravity (FIGURE 4).

FIGURE 5

For individuals who have fixed kyphotic spine, the backrest
can be adjusted to allow for an increased recline while
providing increased contact and support of the back (FIG­URE 6).

Adjust Backrest

to Conform to

Fixed Kyphotic

Deformity

Open Seat to Back

Angle If Possible

FIGURE 6

FIGURE 4

3

The height of the backrest and the amount of control pro­vided by the adjustable tension upholstery will vary de­pending on the abilities of the user. An active paraplegic
(SCI) may require a minimal back height which adds pos­terior stability to the pelvis and lets the trunk assume a
natural balance over the top edge of the wheelchair up­holstery. A less active para (with a high level of injury) or a
quadriplegic may require a higher backrest with an in­creased level of recline (FIGURE 7).

The effect of back support and the angle of the backrest
are interconnected. Changes to one often requires change
to the other if optimal support and balance are to be
achieved. Use of a wheelchair with adjustable tension
upholstery can significantly increase function, postural
control, balance and comfort.

A.

Back

Upholstery

Anchor

Para

Quad

FIGURE 7

C.

Back

Upholstery

Cover

D.

B.

Back

Upholstery

Adjuster

FIGURE 8

4

ADJUSTABLE TENSION BACK UPHOLSTERY (FIGURE 8)

A. B. C. D.

Hook Nylon Adjustable Back

Back Seat Back And Loop Back Assembly

Height Width Anchor Adjuster Cover Complete

10”-14” 14” 1037927 1037936 1037929 1039471
10”-14” 15” 1037927 1037936 1037930 1039472
10”-14” 16” 1037927 1037936 1037931 1039473
10”-14” 17” 1037927 1037928 1037932 1039474
10”-14” 18” 1037927 1037928 1037933 1039475
10”-14” 19” 1037927 1037937 1037934 1039476
10”-14” 20” 1037927 1037937 1037935 1039477
12”-16” 14” 1037916 1037925 1037918 1039478
12”-16” 15” 1037916 1037925 1037919 1039479
12”-16” 16” 1037916 1037925 1037920 1039480
12”-16” 17” 1037916 1037917 1037921 1039481
12”-16” 18” 1037916 1037917 1037922 1039482
12”-16” 19” 1037916 1037926 1037923 1039483
12”-16” 20” 1037916 1037926 1037924 1039484
14”-18” 14” 1037720 1037736 1037722 1039485
14”-18” 15” 1037720 1037736 1037723 1039486
14”-18” 16” 1037720 1037736 1037724 1039487
14”-18” 17” 1037720 1037721 1037725 1039488
14”-18” 18” 1037720 1037721 1037726 1039489
14”-18” 19” 1037720 1037737 1037727 1039490
14”-18” 20” 1037720 1037737 1037728 1039491

Packaging and Carton

Instruction Sheet 1039470
Poly Bag 1021866
Carton 40131X0110

Back Upholstery Hardware Kit

1026298

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NOTES

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6

LIMITED WARRANTY

PLEASE NOTE: THE WARRANTY BELOW HAS BEEN DRAFTED TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW APPLICABLE
TO PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED AFTER JULY 4, 1975.

This warranty is extended only to the original purchaser/user of our products.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other legal rights which vary from

state to state.
Invacare warrants its product to be free fr om defects in materials and workmanship for one (1) year for

the original purchaser. If within such warranty period any such product shall be pr oven to be defective,
such product shall be repaired or replaced, at Invacare's option. This warranty does not include any
labor or shipping charges incurred in replacement part installation or repair of any such pr oduct. Invacare's
sole obligation and your exclusive remedy under this warranty shall be limited to such repair and/or
replacement.

For warranty service, please contact the dealer from whom you purchased your Invacare pr oduct. In
the event you do not receive satisfactory warranty service, please write directly to Invacare at the
address on the back cover. Provide dealer's name, address, model number, date of purchase, indi­cate nature of the defect and, if the product is serialized, indicate the serial number.

Invacare Corporation will issue a return authorization. The defective unit or parts must be returned for warranty
inspection using the serial number, when applicable, as identification within thirty (30) days of return authoriza­tion date. DO NOT return products to our factory without our prior consent. C.O.D. shipments will be refused;
please prepay shipping charges.

LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS: THE WARRANTY SHALL NOT APPLY TO PROBLEMS ARISING FROM NORMAL
WEAR OR FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE ENCLOSED INSTRUCTIONS. IN ADDITION, THE FOREGOING WARRANTY
SHALL NOT APPL Y TO SERIAL NUMBERED PRODUCTS IF THE SERIAL NUMBER HAS BEEN REMOVED OR DEFACED;
PRODUCTS SUBJECTED TO NEGLIGENCE, ACCIDENT, IMPROPER OPERATION, MAINTENANCE OR STORAGE;
OR PRODUCTS MODIFIED WITHOUT INVACARE'S EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
MODIFICATION THROUGH THE USE OF UNAUTHORIZED PAR TS OR ATTACHMENTS: PRODUCTS DAMAGED BY
REASON OF REPAIRS MADE TO ANY COMPONENT WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC CONSENT OF INVACARE; PROD­UCTS DAMAGED BY CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND INVACARE'S CONTROL; PRODUCTS REPAIRED BY ANYONE
OTHER THAN AN AUTHORIZED INV ACARE DEALER, SUCH EV ALUA TION SHALL BE SOLEL Y DETERMINED BY INV AC­ARE.

THE FOREGOING W ARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS W ARRANTIES, IF ANY, INCLUDING
THE IMPLIED W ARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

IT SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE DURA TION OF THE EXPRESSED W ARRANTY PROVIDED HEREIN AND THE
REMEDY FOR VIOLATIONS OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY SHALL BE LIMITED TO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT
OF THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS CONTAINED HEREIN. INVACARE SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER.

THIS WARRANTY SHALL BE EXTENDED TO COMPLY WITH STATE/PROVINCIAL LAWS AND REQUIREMENTS.

7

Invacare Corporation www.invacare.com

USA Canada

One Invacare Way 5970 Chedworth Way Invacare and "Yes, you can" are trademarks of Invacare
Elyria, Ohio USA Mississauga, Ontario Corporation.
44036-2125 L5R 3T9, Canada © 2000 Invacare Corporation
800-333-6900 905-890-8838 Form No. 93-28 Part No. 1039470 Rev C (1) 5/00