Rear View Mirror for Electric Wheelchair

Intro: Rear View Mirror for Electric Wheelchair

Trying to fill the need for a rear view mirror for a family member's electric wheelchair, I came up with the following.

I wanted to make something that could easily be adjusted by someone with mobility impairments as well as installed and removed from the wheelchair without tools.

There were two mounting options: Headrest support and arm support.

I figured mounting off the headrest support would put the mirror closer to the head and eye and also reduce the required  length of the flexible arm.

STEP 1: Materials and Tools

Materials:
2" mirror on 16" flexible shaft - $5.99 from Harbor Freight
5/16" eyebolt - The eye of the eye bolt acts as a handle for tightening the end of the bolt opposite the wing nut.
5/16" wing nut
(2) 5/16" washers

Tools:
Saw
Drill

STEP 2: Cut Handle to Fit Headrest Mount

Using a hand saw, cut halfway through the thickness of the handle to suit the angle (if any) of the headrest mount.

Next, cut the handle lengthwise from the tip to the previous cut line.

Save the cut-off for clamping the handle to the headrest mount.

Hold the two pieces together and drill a 5/16" hole through both.

STEP 3: Mounting

The two handle parts sit on opposite sides of the headrest mount and using the wing nut and washer on each side clamp the handle parts down to secure mirror to headrest mount.

Haven't tried it out, as I need to get it there, but will post a picture after it is installed.

Comments

[Susitna]

Because I have arthritis from neck to toes and need knee replacement, I use a wheeled walker when at my flea market booth. I've been looking for a better way to attach my rearview mirror. Although instructions say not to, I often sit on my walker and propel it with my foot. Going backward is much easier than frontwards. I am going to change my clamp. Thank you. Mary Alice.

[kelseymh]

Excellent project; very simple, very inexpensive! If the user's chair doesn't have a headrest, what would you modify to mount the mirror on an armrest? Would you still use the long, flexible Harbor Frieght (woo hoo!) mirror, or something different?

[marple200]

If I had to mount to the arm rest support, which is about a 1" diameter tube, I was thinking of using a Harbor Freight plastic spring clamp ($1), with an added through bolt and wingnut to secure it more firmly.