TiLite
®
OM000007 - Rev. B
8
1. The position of the rear wheels is the most significant factor affecting your center of gravity. The
more you move the rear wheels forward, the more likely your chair will tip over backward.
2. The distance between the rear wheels. The less distance between the rear wheels, the greater
the likelihood your chair will tip over to the side.
3. The amount of rear wheel camber. The less camber, the greater the likelihood your chair will tip
over to the side.
4. The height of your seat. As you raise the height of your seat, you raise your center of gravity and
increase the likelihood of all types of tip-overs.
5. The angle of your seat. As you increase the angle of your seat (relative to the floor), your
position in the chair is shifted toward the rear of the chair, increasing the likelihood your chair will
tip over backward.
6. The angle of your backrest. As you increase the angle of your backrest (relative to the seat),
your position in the chair is shifted toward the rear of the chair, increasing the likelihood your
chair will tip over backward.
7. The height of your seat back. As you lower the height of your seat back, you make it easier to
lean back in your chair, which in turn shifts your center of gravity rearward and increases the
likelihood your chair will tip over backward.
Other factors will affect your center of gravity:
1. A change in your body position, posture or weight distribution. For example, if you lean forward
you shift the center of gravity forward and increase the likelihood of tipping over forward.
2. Riding your chair on a ramp or slope. On an up-slope, your weight shifts to the rear and a
backward tip-over becomes more likely. On a down-slope, your weight shifts to the front of the
chair and a forward tip-over becomes more likely.
3. The use of a backpack or other options, and the amount of weight added by those options. For
example, carrying a lot of weight in a backpack will shift the center of gravity rearward and
increase the likelihood of tipping over backward. However, using a TiLite seat pouch beneath the
seat sling to carry heavier items will lower your center of gravity and reduce, but not eliminate,
your risk of a tip over.
In order to reduce the risk of a tip-over, you should:
1. CONSULT your doctor, nurse or therapist to find out what axle and caster position and other
chair configuration options are best for you.
2. CONSULT your authorized TiLite dealer BEFORE you modify or adjust your wheelchair. Often,
an adjustment you wish to make can be offset by another that you have not considered. For
example, you may want to adjust the back angle rearward, which will increase the likelihood of a
rear tip-over. You might not think you could counteract this tendency by moving the rear wheels
backward. Your authorized TiLite dealer will be able to give you expert, personalized advice in
such matters.
3. ALWAYS have someone assist you until you learn your chair’s balance points and are
completely comfortable in your ability to operate your chair under all conditions so as to avoid tip-
overs.
4. ALWAYS use anti-tippers.
If you ignore these Warnings, you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously
injure yourself or others or damage the wheelchair.
B. TRANSFERRING IN AND OUT OF YOUR WHEELCHAIR
WARNING
Transferring in or out of your wheelchair is one of the most dangerous things you can attempt
relating to your wheelchair. It requires good balance, agility and upper body conditioning. At some
point in every transfer, there is no wheelchair seat beneath you and the seat, bed, etc. to or from
which you are transferring is not beneath you either.
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