Unwin EasiSit User Instructions

Read instructions carefully before use and follow them for correct use.

It is recommended that training be given on the proper use of this product.

Retain this manual for future reference.

Please include it with the product in the event of transfer to new users.

Additional copies are available upon request.

Unwin House • The Horseshoe • Coat Road • Martock •

Somerset • TA12 6EY • UK

Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.unwin-safety.com

UI1913C

USER OPERATING & INSTALLATION

USER OPERATING & INSTALLATION

USER OPERATING & INSTALLATION

INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS

EasiSit

EasiSit

EasiSit

BOOKLET CONTENTS

EASISIT

A. Limitations of use
B. General Guidance
C. Before Using and Installing EasiSit
D. Positioning Rail Mounted EasiSit
E. Positioning a Bolted EasiSit
F. Fitting the Armrest
G. Securing the wheelchair
H. Securing the passenger
I. Converting to a seat
J. Equipment, Storage and Maintenance
K. Warranty
L. Wearers belt instructions
M. Inspection Checklist
N. Check sheet

A. LIMITATIONS OF USE

B. GENERAL GUIDANCE

1. Wheelchair Accessories that have not been approved by the Wheelchair Manufacturer must
be removed from the wheelchair and secured in the vehicle during transport to reduce the
potential for injury. Refer to ‘Instructions For Use in Transport’ provided with the
wheelchair or contact wheelchair manufacturer for further guidance.

2. EasiSit complies with all applicable requirements of ISO 10542 including a 48-km/h, 20g
frontal impact test using a forward facing 85kg surrogate wheelchair and an ATD (test dum­my) with a mass of 76.3kg. The test dummy was restrained by both the pelvic and
upper-torso restraint as described in latter detail, use of a pelvic only belt may compromise
the performance of the WTORS system and should avoided.

3. Regular inspection of all parts is recommended and the equipment should be used only if
all components are in good condition. Warning: protect webbing from contacting sharp
edges and corners. Replace equipment if the webbing does becomes cut, contaminated or
frayed.

4. Any restraints which have been subjected to a crash situation from which the vehicle must
be towed, should, in the interest of safety, be replaced.

5. Do not attempt to modify the equipment. For further advice on the installation and use of
this WTORS please contact Unwin Safety Systems. Please read this manual fully before
use.

6. Avoid contact with corrosive liquids. Care should be taken to prevent contamination of the
webbing with polishes, oils and chemicals.

7. EasiSit should be installed by an experienced technician/ vehicle converter. Anchorages
should not be installed into unsound materials such as corroded metal, wood, plastic and
bre glass panels without additional and suitable reinforcement.

8. The equipment has been tested in a conguration similar to that recommended by Unwin
Safety Systems, and any deviation from the recommendations here is the responsibility of
the installer.

1. Unwin EasiSit is designed to secure both manual and powered wheelchairs weighing up to

85 kg and incorporates a passenger restraint.

2. In addition to the details given in these Instructions, users of Unwin EasiSit must refer to

the wheelchair manufacturer’s ‘Instructions For Use in Transport’ for full details of
tie-down attachment points on the wheelchair, plus any other specic instructions relating
to use in transport.

3. Wheelchair users and their carers must make sure that their wheelchair is recommended

for use in transport, including any ‘add-on’ components such as power tilt or recline
options.

4. The development of Unwin wheelchair tie-downs and occupant restraints is a continuous

process. Applications are added on a regular basis. For more detail contact Unwin Safety
Systems or look on the Unwin website.

C. BEFORE USING AND INSTALLING EASISIT

1. Ensure that the wheelchair is correctly maintained and that the settings of any adjustable
parts are made according to ‘Instruction for Use in Transport’.

2. Whenever possible remove any items of luggage etc that may be attached to the
wheelchair and secure or store separately during transport in order to reduce the potential
for injury to other passengers travelling in the vehicle.

3. Extra care must be exercised when using vehicle boarding aids such as passenger lifts or
ramps during the loading process. Refer to ‘Instructions For Use’ for information on safe
slopes.

4. Position the wheelchair facing forward - centrally in
the designated region of the vehicle. Ensure the

wheelchair brakes are applied.

5. To minimise the potential for head injuries in an
impact, allow a clear space of at least 400 mm
behind and 650 mm, (FCZ, front clear zone), in front
of the head of the wheelchair user. (Fig 1.). The
shoulder belt anchorage must be roof or side-wall
anchored at a height level such that the belt
webbing passes over the midpoint of the occupant
shoulder and at a height that is at or just above the
level of the occupants shoulders so as not to impose
downward loads on the spine.

6. A height provision (HHT) ranging from 1000mm to
1550mm should be made, depending on the size of
the passenger. There should also be 200 mm of clear
space either side of the wheelchair centre line. If these clear space dimensions cannot be
provided then any structure protruding into this space should be adequately padded and
comply with impact performance requirements of ECE Regulation 21 ‘FMVSS 201’. All
vehicle padding should comply with the ammability requirements of ECE Regulation 118
‘FMVSS 302’.

7. Note: seated head height (HHT) ranges from as low as 1000mm for a 6-year old child to

1550mm for a tall adult.

8. Wheelchair users, their carers and family are advised to check vehicle specications to

ensure that sucient oor space is available to accommodate the wheelchair and
tie-down system. These distances are based upon the desire to maintain clear zones for
potential head excursions of occupants provided with both upper and lower torso
restraints.

9. Users of heavy powered wheelchairs are also advised to check vehicle carrying capacity.

If in doubt consult the vehicle supplier for further details.

10. Any airbag, as tted to the vehicle, shall only be used as a supplementary occupant

restraint if designed to be used in combination with the WTORS kit.

11. Installers of EasiSit should take note of any vehicle airbag position when planning the

installation. Airbags can cause serious injury if a wheelchair-seated occupant is seated too
close to an airbag position. If in doubt contact the vehicle manufacturer or your National
Automotive Regulatory Body for advice.

1

D. POSITIONING RAIL MOUNTED EASISIT

1. Place the EasiSit facing forwards on the rails in the desired position with the handled

plunger extended up and the anti-rattle cam in its lowered position (rotated fully anti­clockwise) [1]. Use the wheels & curved ends of the rail tting to aid positioning and
insertion into the rail.

2. Once located in the rail, rotate both plungers to coincide with the vertical slots in the anti-

rattle cam, and slide EasiSit along the rail until both plungers drop and lock in. Rotate both
plunger housing assemblies clockwise until resistance is felt [2]. EasiSit is now securely
located and rattle free, ready for use.

3. Release EasiSit from the rail by reversing the above sequence. Remember to use the curved

rail tting ends to locate the exact exit area of tting to rail. Once aligned, carefully tilt
EasiSit back onto its wheels and wheel away.

[1] Unlocked

Anti-rattle plunge housing
fully anti clockwise & plunger
raised & disengaged.

[2] To Lock

Drop plunger into position,
engaging in rail, turn anti
rattle assembly until
resistance is felt.

E. POSITIONING A BOLTED EASISIT

For a permanent installation, EasiSit may be bolted directly into a vehicle or into Unwin rail.

1. Carefully choose a suitable wheelchair space within the vehicle for EasiSit. Note the six

xing positions through the leg feet. Ensure that there are no obstructions directly beneath
the xing positions such as petrol tanks, brake lines or anything that may be damaged when
drilling and bolting through the oor. If necessary, relocate the EasiSit to avoid potential
problems.

2. When satised that the EasiSit is correctly positioned, mark the xing positions and drill

through the oor using an 11 mm drill bit. A simple card template can be made up if
required as an aid to marking and drilling the xing positions.

3. Underoor support is required at all bolted positions. It is recommended that a plate

75mmx75mmx4mm (or equivalent) is used for each bolt location.

4. Install EasiSit and securely tighten all xings.

5. Apply a proprietary under body sealant/paint to protect any drilled areas beneath the oor

to preserve the vehicle’s corrosion resistance.

Please note: Fixings are not supplied as dierent installations will require dierent lengths of
bolt, under oor spreader plates and/or strengthening for optimum tment. Regardless of
length, we recommend that no fewer than six bolts are used at a minimum grade of 10.9 along
with nylock or similar shake-proof nuts.

1. If EasiSit is set as a seat, lift the armrest(s), if tted,

into an upright position and fold the seat cushion (A).

2. Position the wheelchair at a convenient distance in

front and away from the EasiSit, pull out each
karabiner and attach to mainframe of the
wheelchair. (Some manufacturers may indicate
attachment points on the wheelchair frame for the
karabiners.)

3. Move the wheelchair up to the EasiSit. Stand behind

EasiSit and guide the wheelchair up to and against
the telescopic stand-o bar (B), adjusting it for width/
height if required. Height adjustment is achieved by
releasing the two thumb screws and repositioning
them along with the stand-o bar to the next row of
holes. (Standard height indicated by yellow arrows).
The standard position will generally be found to be
the most suitable for the majority of wheelchairs.

4. Once the wheelchair is hard up against the stand-o

bar, depress the foot pedal (C) fully until you hear a
loud click as it locks in. Apply the wheelchair brakes.

5. Test that the wheelchair is secure by leaning on and then lifting its handles. Neither the front

castors nor the rear wheels should be able to lift o the ground. If the wheelchair is felt not
to be secure enough, it may be necessary to release the foot pedal and repeat step 4.

F. FITTING THE ARMREST

D

A

C

E

B

1. Find threaded holes in the seat frame, situated

one third of the way up from the seat and close
to the front edge (Fig 1). Use a braddle to
punch the fabric.

2. Place two 5mm spacers between the armrest

and the seat, tighten the screws right up and
place the cover (Fig 2 & 3)

G. SECURING THE WHEELCHAIR

1

2 3

To release the wheelchair:

1. Simultaneously lift the red handle (D) on the seat back and raise the yellow foot pedal with
your toe (C).

2. Release the wheelchair brakes and move the wheelchair away from the EasiSit. Reapply
the brakes and remove the karabiner straps, allowing them to retract to their storage
position and clipped over the front leg cross rail. (E). Depress the foot pedal to remove any
possible tripping hazard.

H. SECURING THE PASSENGER

The EasiSit may have been tted with a variety of
dierent passenger restraint options. It will be
necessary to identify which options are tted to the
EasiSit being used such that the attendant can best
address the needs of both the wheelchair user and
the able bodied.

The options are as follows:

 Left hand seat belt with height adjuster.
 Right hand seat belt with height adjuster.
 Both left & right hand seat belts with height

adjusters forming a ‘Cross’ Strap.

 The seatbelts and stalks are colour coded to

ensure that they are correctly tted.

Tip: - The occupant restraint may be split to allow
the lap belt element to pass through the arms of
xed arm wheelchairs, allowing for a more
comfortable and better tting belt.

Fitting the seatbelt:

1. Pull enough webbing and ttings from the shoulder exit
and t black tongue (A) into black stalk (B), to form the
diagonal belt. Alternatively t grey tongue A1 into grey stalk
B1.

2. Pull the grey tongue (C) across the occupant, (through a
xed arm rest if necessary), and clip into stalk (D).
Alternatively t the black tongue (C1) into black stalk.

3. Adjust the height adjuster buckle for a comfortable t
across the occupant shoulder. This completes the lap and
diagonal restraint (See photo on left) .

4. If tting a ‘cross strap’ repeat the procedure with the
remaining strap.

D

C

A

B

A1

B1 C1 D1

A

C

D

I. CONVERTING TO A SEAT

1. Check and conrm that the Karabiner straps are in
their retracted storage position, clipped to the front
leg cross rail, and that the foot pedal is depressed and
locked down. This is important to remove any
possible tripping hazard to other passengers and to
keep the webbing clean and tidy.

2. Push in the ends of the telescopic stand o bar. Stand
in front of EasiSit, hold the sides of the seat cushion
and push it down to allow the frame to ‘hinge’ down
to its horizontal position.

3. Fit Tongue A into stalk B and tongue A1 into stalk B1,
ready to be used as a standard seating passenger
seatbelt.

J. EQUIPMENT STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE

1. Regularly inspect EasiSit for damage, wear or malfunction. If any problems are identied
replace them immediately.

2. All webbing and components can be cleaned as necessary, but care should be taken to
prevent contamination of the webbing with polish, oils and chemicals particularly acid,
alkalis and fuels.

3. To clean the straps use warm soapy water and a clean soft cloth. Rinse with clear water,
and allow to air dry. To disinfect use a mild spray disinfectant and do not use products
containing bleach. Important: when cleaning or disinfecting do not immerse or ood

buckles or karabiners in the disinfectant or water.

4. If the vehicle is involved in an accident when any restraints are deployed and from which
the vehicle must be towed, remove them from service and replace. If in doubt please
contact Unwin Safety Systems.

A1 A

B

B1

K. WARRANTY

Unwin products are extensively tested using Unwin anchorage systems, and our full warranty
normally only applies to Unwin equipment when used with Unwin branded anchorages or as
instructed.

For further details on specic applications please contact the Sales Oce.

In other situations, using Unwin products, for which Unwin has not participated in a joint test
program, a limited Unwin warranty will apply.

USING THE SEAT BELT— Seat belts should be worn on all journeys

When in use the lap belt part of the seat belt should be positioned on
the bony part of the hip and the buckle should lie on or below the
hip. When inserting a tongue into a buckle ensure that a positive
audible ‘click’ is heard.

TESTING THE HARNESS

The design of the reel makes it lock the webbing by both a sudden withdrawal of the webbing
and deceleration, or cornering of the vehicle. To test the former mode of locking, rapidly pull
the webbing from the reel. The reel should lock within a few inches. To test the second mode
of locking the vehicle may be parked on a sharp incline (approximately 30°), the reel should
lock and hold the webbing in place. The lock will disengage itself automatically when the
vehicle is level.

WARNING

Always ensure that the belt is not twisted on the body, or through the anchorage points.
Always wear the belt as a complete lap and diagonal assembly. Do not use the belt for more
than one person, even small children. Do not allow the belt to chafe against sharp edges.
Periodically inspect the webbing for abrasion, paying particular attention to anchorage points
and adjusting devices. Any safety belt which has been subjected to a shock load should in the
interest of safety, be renewed.

L. WEARERS BELT INSTRUCTIONS

M. INSPECTION CHECKLIST

SEAT

 Do the lockable seat xtures operate as described in section B of this manual.
 Appearance/Condition of painted surfaces.
 Appearance/Condition of trim.
 Is there any loose strands/Pieces of material/trim.
 Can the seat cushion be lifted, with the aid of the gas spring, to its upright position.
 Does the gas spring hold the seat cushion in the upright position.
 Does the seat cushion fold at for use as an able bodied seat.

SEAT BELT

 Are all stalks attached tightly to the frame.
 Are all stalks intact and without damage.
 Do seat belt tongues lock into their corresponding stalks.
 Do the tongues release when the stalk release buttons are pressed.
 Is the height adjuster present on the shoulder belt.
 Does the height adjuster slide freely along the shoulder belt.
 Does the shoulder belt extend and retract from the exit guide.
 Is any webbing slack formed during occupant tment taken up by the reel.
 Does retractor lock when EasiSit is inclined at an angle.
 Does retractor lock instantly when the webbing is snatch pulled.
 Does retractor take in when snatch pull is released.
 Does the webbing show any signs of wear/abrasion/damage.
 Do all webbing stitched areas look to be in good condition.

 WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT
 Does foot pedal raise and lower smoothly.

 Does release lever lift and allow foot pedal to be raised.
 With foot pedal raised can karabiner straps be manually extended.
 Upon release of the karabiner straps do they retract back into the reel casings.
 Does karabiner gate open fully and close automatically upon release of the gate.
 Is the stitch pattern to the karabiner in good condition.
 Does the webbing show any signs of wear/abrasion/damage.
 Is the stand-o bar and retaining Knobs (x2) present.
 Can the stand-o bar be telescoped.
 Are the plastic grip covers present and in good condition.
 Can the stand-o bar assembly be moved to another height position.

Depending on frequency of use it is recommended that the EasiSit be inspected at least once a
month.

N. CHECK LIST

Unwin House • The Horseshoe • Coat Road • Martock •

Somerset • TA12 6EY • UK

Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.unwinsafety.com