Seat for a walker

I have a friend who has a disability. She tires easily and when she does she has a difficult time finding a place to sit when she needs it. I came up with this design that would be lightweight, removable, secure, could be hand washed, and would not be in the way when attached. The seat portion was recycled car seat harness from a child safety seat.

Step 1 Gather tools and materials

In this instructable I used

sewing machine
scissors
seam ripper (not pictured)
Lighter


Materials
length of car seat harness webbing
1" flat nylon webbing
Heavy duty upholstry thread
4 1" welded steel D rings
8 1" welded steel O rings
4  3/4" electrical conduit claps (dipped in plastic dip prior to use)

To attach to walker I used
Pliers
flat headed screwdriver

Comments

[reddnekk]

Great idea. And--if you don't have a sewing machine, all straps can be riveted--riveter is cheap in handicraft store (Michael's, for example). And hammer can be used if no riveter available (altho you DO have to have rivets). Use at least four rivets per joint, space so they are not in line. And seat can be one piece of canvas with straps riveted along two opposite edges. (I don't have sewing machine, but DO have riveter.)

Now why didn't I think of this?

[Questor]

I like to use rivets and contact cement (two layers)
two layers contact cement
clamp then rivet

[jblessf]

This is wonderful! It is light weight. Which makes it easier to use the walker. The ones that are sold in stores are too heavy. My hat is off to you.

[nneul]

That was one of my "requirements" when I brainstormed this up. I looked around but all of the available seats (If you could find one) were very heavy or bulky and not convenient to carry around at all times. This is very portable, hand washable, light weight, sturdy, and adjustable.

[laurel1]

I worry that the clamps would slip off of the handle and dump the person to the floor.
If the clamps were put on the side support bars, and could slide back and forth, the seat could be pushed back when the walker is folded. The blue straps, on the corners, could have INDUSTRIAL velcro to attach around the legs to keep the seat square when sat upon. I think that the clamps still should be used to provide extra strength.
Also, I don't know where to buy these, but there are wheels for the back legs that collapse so that the walker doesn't roll when someone sits on it. They sort of lift so that the weight is on the leg and not on the little wheel. These are usually on the walkers that have the flip seats. They have larger front wheels and these smaller collapsing wheels are on the back legs.
OK, grannie with a walker gave her two cents. I'll be interested to see how someone will improve on this. Oh, and don't forget to mention a weight limit so that a heavier person doesn't get hurt.
If anyone sees these collapsing wheels for sale anywhere, please let me know.

[nneul]

The clamps are something that was a concern. I tested it with my own weight before I allowed anyone to use it. I weigh right around 240. It didn't bulge or wiggle at all. I then sat in it for around 30 minutes just to test the strength. It was not the most comfortable seat but then again I am larger then the intended person it was designed for. This would be great for someone who needed short but frequent breaks.

If you have never messed with plastic dip it sure is a lot of fun... Gooey, messy, stinky, but fun. :)

[Jadagara]

A great idea indeed. My wife has tumor on her spine and she now needs a walker to move around when she prefers that instead of on a wheelchair. Like your friend, she tires easily so a seat like this would be a relief during those moments. Thank you for sharing.

[jneul]

Great idea. Simple, functional, relatively inexpensive