Vermeiren V500 Active Wheelchair Instruction Manual

: June 13, 2024
: VERMEIREN

Table of Contents

Vermeiren V500 Active Wheelchair
Product Information
Preface
Your product
Before use
Using your wheelchair
Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Technical specifications
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

Vermeiren V500 Active Wheelchair

Product Information

The V500 Active is a wheelchair designed for individuals with mobility impairments. It is equipped with various features to ensure user comfort and safety during use.

Contents

Preface
Your product
Before use
Using your wheelchair
Maintenance
Technical specifications

Your Product

The V500 Active wheelchair is a reliable and durable mobility aid. It is designed to provide comfortable and efficienttransportation for individuals with mobility limitations.

Before Use

Before using the V500 Active wheelchair, please read and understand the following:

Intended Use

The wheelchair is intended for indoor and outdoor use by individuals with mobility impairments.

General Safety Instructions

Follow these safety instructions to ensure safe operation of the wheelchair.

Symbols on the Wheelchair

Familiarize yourself with the symbols displayed on the wheelchair for better understanding of its features andfunctions.

Transport

Learn how to transport the wheelchair safely, including considerations for securing it during transportation.

Folding/Unfolding

Instructions on how to fold and unfold the wheelchair for easy storage and transportation.

Storage

Tips for proper storage of the wheelchair to maintain its condition and longevity.

Using Your Wheelchair

Learn how to operate and use the V500 Active wheelchair effectively and safely.

Mounting or Removing the Footrests

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly mount or remove the footrests.

Operating the Brakes

Detailed information on how to operate the wheelchair’s brakes for safe and controlled stopping.

Mounting or Removing the Armrests (Optional)

Instructions for attaching or detaching the armrests, if applicable.

Adjusting Anti-Tipping (If Applicable)

Guidance on adjusting the anti-tipping feature of the wheelchair, if available.

Backrest Support

Information on adjusting and utilizing the backrest support for optimal comfort and posture.

Transfer In and Out of the Wheelchair

Step-by-step instructions on safely transferring in and out of the wheelchair.

Riding the Wheelchair

Tips and guidelines for riding the wheelchair, including maneuvering and navigating obstacles.

Maintenance

Proper maintenance is crucial for ensuring the longevity and performance of your V500 Active wheelchair.

Points of Maintenance

Identify the key areas that require regular maintenance to keep the wheelchair in optimal condition.

Maintenance Instructions

Detailed instructions on how to perform routine maintenance tasks, such as cleaning and lubrication.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and troubleshooting steps to address any problems that may arise during wheelchair use.

Expected Lifespan

Information on the expected lifespan of the wheelchair and factors that may affect its durability.

Reuse

Guidelines on reusing the wheelchair and considerations for its proper reuse.

End of Use

Instructions on how to safely dispose of or retire the wheelchair when it is no longer in use.

Technical Specifications

Detailed specifications and measurements of the V500 Active wheelchair, including weight capacity, dimensions, and other relevant information.

Preface

Congratulations! You are now owner of a Vermeiren wheelchair!

This wheelchair is made by qualified and committed personnel. It is designed and producedaccording to high quality standards, guarded by Vermeiren. Please read this manual carefully; it will help you to get familiar with the operation, capabilities and limitations of your wheelchair. If you still have questions after reading this manual, do not hesitate to contact your specialist dealer. He/she will be glad to help you.
Important note
To ensure your safety, and to prolong the lifetime of your product, please take good care of it and have it checked and serviced on a regular basis.This manual reflects the latest product developments. Vermeiren has the right to implement changes to this type of product without any obligation to adapt or replace similar products previously delivered.
Pictures are used to clarify the instructions in this manual. Details of the depicted product may deviate from your product.
Information available
On our website http://www.vermeiren.com/ you will always find the most recent version of the information in this manual. Please consult this website regularly for possible updates. Visually impaired people can download the electronic version of this manual and have it read outby means of a text-to- speech software application.

User manual For user and specialist dealer
Installation instructions For specialist dealer
Service manual for wheelchairs For specialist dealer
EC declaration of conformity

Your product

Backrest
Seat
Footrests
Footplates
Steering wheels (front wheels)
Brakes
Driving wheels (rear wheels)
Hand rims
Tip cap
Cross
Identification plate

Before use

Intended use

Indications and contraindications: This wheelchair is meant to be operated by the user sitting in the wheelchair. The wheelchair is intended for elderly people or people with walking difficulties or no walking abilities, such as paralysis, loss of limbs, limb defects or deformations, stiff or damaged joints, heart insufficiencies and poor blood circulation, balance disturbances,cachexia (decrease in muscle), … You should NOT use this wheelchair if you suffer fromphysical or mental impairments that may put you, or other people, in danger when driving the wheelchair. For this reason, consult your doctor first and make sure that your specialist dealer is informed about his advice.
This wheelchair is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
This wheelchair is designed and produced solely to transport/transfer one (1) person with a maximum weight of 130kg. It is not designed for transportation of goods or objects, nor for any use other than previously described.
Only use accessories and spare parts approved by Vermeiren.
Please read all technical details and limits of your wheelchair in chapter 5.
The warranty on this product is based on normal use and maintenance as described in this manual. Damage to your product caused by improper use or lack of maintenance will cause the warranty to lapse.

General safety instructions

CAUTION

Risk of injuries and/or damage
Carefully read and follow the instructions in this manual. Otherwise you may get injured or your wheelchair may get damaged.
Keep the following general warnings in mind during use:

Do not use your wheelchair if you are under influence of alcohol, medicines or other substances that may influence your riding abilities.
Be aware that some parts of your wheelchair may get very hot or cold due to ambient temperature, solar radiation or heating devices. Be careful when touching. Wear protective clothing if the weather is cold. When going outdoors, riding gloves can be used to improve the grip on the hand rims.
Do not modify your wheelchair in any way. Be aware that your wheelchair may interfere with some types of anti-theft systems, depending onthe settings used. This may cause the shop’s alarm to go off. In case a serious incident has occurred involving your product, notify Vermeiren or your specialist dealer as well as the competent authority in your country.

Symbols on the wheelchair

Maximum weight of the user in kg
Indoor/outdoor use
Maximum safe slope in ° (degrees).
Type designation

Transport

Transport by vehicle, as luggage

WARNING

Risk of injuries

Do NOT use your wheelchair as a seat in a vehicle, see the following symbol.
Make sure that the wheelchair is attached properly to avoid injury from the
passengers during collision or sudden braking.
NEVER use the same seatbelt to secure the wheelchair and passenger.
1. Remove footrests, armrests and accessories.
2. Store footrests, armrests and accessories safely.
3. If possible, fold the wheelchair and remove the rear wheels.
4. Place the wheelchair in the luggage compartment.
5. If the luggage and passenger compartments are NOT separated, attach the frame of the wheelchair securely to the vehicle. You can use the available safety belts in the vehicle.

Folding/Unfolding

CAUTION

Risk of injuries
Keep fingers away from moving parts of the wheelchair.
Unfolding the wheelchair

Position yourself at the front of the wheelchair.
Pull the seat frame tubes outwards.
Push both seating tubes down till they are fixed in their position.

Folding the wheelchair

Fold the footplates or remove the footrests (see § 3.1).
Take the seat on the front side and backside and pull it up.

Mounting the rear wheels

Take the rear wheel and push button .
Keep the button pushed in and mount the rear wheel axle until it stops.
Release the button.
Check that the wheel is secured.

Taking off the wheels

Make sure the brakes stand in the off position.
Take the wheelchair to the side frame where you want to remove the wheel.
Press the button in the center of the wheel hub.
Pull the wheel away from the frame.

Storage
Make sure that your wheelchair is stored in a dry environment to prevent mould from growing and the upholstery from being damaged, see also chapter 5.

Using your wheelchair

WARNING

Risk of injuries

First read previous chapters and inform yourself about the intended use. Do NOT use your wheelchair unless you have read and fully understood all instructions.
In case of doubts or questions, do not hesitate to contact your local specialist dealer, your care provider or technical adviser to help you with this.

Mounting or removing the footrests
Mounting the footrests is done as follows:

Hold the footrest sideways at the outside of the wheelchair’s frame and mount the tube hood into the frame.
Swing the footrest inwards until it clicks in position.
Swing the footplate downwards.

To take off the footrests:

Pull lever.
Swing the footrest to the outside of the wheelchair until it comes loose from the guidance.
Pull the footrest from the tube hood.

Operating the brakes

The brakes are not used to slow down the wheelchair during movements. Use the brake only to prevent the wheelchair from unintended movements.
Good operation of the brakes is influenced by wear and contamination of the tires (water, oil, mud, …). Check the condition of the tires before each use.
The brakes are adjustable and can wear. Check the operation of the brakes before each use.
Make sure the wheelchair is on a flat horizontal surface before releasing the brakes. Never release both brakes simultaneously.

The sport brakes are located under the seat.
Releasing brakes :

With one hand, hold one of the hand rims.
Pull the handle of the OTHER wheel BACKWARDS.
Repeat this for the second wheel and parking brake.

Applying brakes :

With one hand, hold on of the hand rims.
Push the brake handle of the OTHER wheel forward until you feel a distinctive lock.
Repeat this for the second wheel and parking brake.

Mounting or removing the armrests (optional)

The armrests of the wheelchair can be mounted by following instructions.

Mount the armrest 1 in the armrest support 2 until the screw 3 fits in the sleeve 4 .
Make sure the armrest 1 is firmly fixated.

To remove the armrest:

Grasp the arm pad and pull the armrest gently out of the armrest support

Adjusting anti-tipping (if applicable)
Adjust the height of the anti-tipping in 7 positions (range 120 mm: steps 20 mm):

Loosen the star knob 1 a little bit.
Move the tube of the anti-tipping in the desired height.
Secure the star knob 1.
Make sure that the anti-tipping is firmly secured

Backrest support

The backrest of the wheelchair has a suspension system with adjustable Velcro straps, to adjust the flexibility of the backrest.
Pull the backrest cushion from the Velcro straps of the backrest.
Loosen the Velcro straps.
Pull the respective strap to the desired position. Thetension of the individual belts can be varied and the desired support of the back can be set.
Place the back cushion back over the backrest starting at the front and ending at the back.
Secure the Velcro connections by pressing the cushion against the backrest with your hand.
Make sure that all straps are secured with Velcro.

Transfer in and out of the wheelchair

In case you cannot perform the transfer in a safe manner, ask someone to assist you.
Do not stand on the footplates.

Position the wheelchair as close as possible to the chair, couch or bed to/from you wish to transfer.
Make sure that both brakes of the wheelchair are activated.
Fold the foot plates up to prevent standing on them.
If the transfer is on the side of the wheelchair, remove the armrest on that side (see § 3.3) and fold the brake lever down.
Transfer to/from the wheelchair.

Correct position in the wheelchair
Some recommendations for a comfortable use of the wheelchair:

Position your backside as close as possible to the backrest.
Make sure your upper legs are horizontal. If needed adjust the length of the footrests (see installation manual).

Riding the wheelchair

Before every usage, make sure that:
- parking brakes are working properly.
- tires are in good condition, see §4.
Prevent your fingers from being caught by the wheel spokes.
Do not operate the hand rims with wet hands.
Prevent entrapment of your hands on the hand rims when you pass small passages.
Do NOT drive on slopes, obstacles, steps or kerbs larger than specified in §5.
When you stop on a (small) slope, use your brakes.
Make sure all four wheels touch the ground while riding up or down a slope.
Take slopes as slow as possible.
Always stay on the pavement when riding on public roads.
Pay attention if the road has holes or gaps that may cause entrapment of the wheels.
Avoid stones and other objects that may block the wheels.
Make sure that the footplates do not touch ground while taking an obstacle.
Do not use your wheelchair on an escalator.
If available, wear your safety belt.
Always keep the swing range of the footplate in mind to prevent bystanders from being injured or objects from being damaged.
If you don’t have enough experience riding your wheelchair, ask assistance of an attendant. Keep your arms away from the wheels and keep your feet on the footplate.
Stairs should always be negotiated with the help of two attendants.
Never try to use stairs that are not appropriate for wheelchairs.

Riding your wheelchair:

Release the brakes.
Take both hand rims at their highest position.
Lean forward and push the hand rims forward until your arms are straight.
Move your hands back to the top of the hand rims and repeat the movement.

Maintenance

Points of maintenance
Risk of injuries and damage

Repairs and replacements may only be undertaken by trained persons and only genuine replacement parts of Vermeiren should be used.The service frequency depends on the frequency and intensity of use. Contact your dealerto agree to a common timetable for inspection/maintenance/repair. For the maintenance manual, refer to the Vermeiren website: www.vermeiren.com.

Before each use
Inspect the following points:

All parts: Present and undamaged or unworn.
All parts: Clean, see § 4.2.2.
Wheels, backrest, seat, calf rests, arm rests, footplates: Well secured.
Condition of wheels/tyres, see § 4.2.1;
Condition of frame parts: No deformation, instability, weakness or loose connections
Seat, backrest, arm pads, calf pads and head rest (if applied): No excessive wear (like dented spots, damage or tears).
Brakes: Undamaged and functioning.
Contact your specialist dealer for possible repairs or part replacements.

Yearly or more often
Have your wheelchair inspected and serviced by your specialist dealer, at least once a year, or more often. The minimum maintenance frequency depends on use and should therefore be commonly agreed upon with your specialist dealer

Maintenance instructions
Wheels and tyres
Proper working of the brakes depends on the state of the tyres, and can change due to wear and contamination (water, oil, mud, …). Keep your wheels free of wires, hair, sand and fibres.Check the profile of the tyres. If the tread depth is less than 1 mm, the tyres need to be replaced. Contact your specialist dealer for this matter. Inflate each pneumatic tyre to the correct pressure (see pressure indication on the tyres).

Cleaning

Never use a hose or high-pressure cleaner to clean the wheelchair. Wipe all rigid parts of the wheelchair with a damp cloth (not drenched).If necessary, use a mild soap, suitable for varnishes and synthetics. The upholstery can be cleaned with lukewarm water and a mild soap. Do not use abrasive cleaning agents to clean.

Disinfection

Disinfections may only be undertaken by trained persons. Consult your specialist dealer.

Troubleshooting

Even if you use your wheelchair properly, a technical problem may occur. In this case, contact
your local specialist dealer.
Risk of injuries and damage to the wheelchair
NEVER repair your wheelchair yourself attempting to solve the problem.
The following symptoms may indicate a serious problem. Therefore always contact your specialist
dealer if you spot any of the following deviations:

Strange sound;
Uneven tread wear on one of the tyres;
Jerky movements;
Wheelchair deflects to one side;
Damaged or broken wheel assemblies.

Expected lifespan
The average lifespan of your wheelchair is 5 years. Depending on the frequency of use, driving circumstances and maintenance, the lifespan of your wheelchair will increase or decrease.
Reuse
Before each reuse, have the wheelchair disinfected, inspected and serviced according to the instructions in §4.1 and §4.2.
End of use
At end of life, you need to dispose your wheelchair according to the local environmental legislation. The best way to do so, is to disassemble the wheelchair to facilitate the transport of recyclable parts.

Technical specifications

Technical terms below are valid for the wheelchair in standard settings. If other footrests / armrests or other accessories are used, the tabulated values will change.

Make	Vermeiren
Type	Manual wheelchair
Model	V500 Active
Maximum occupant mass	130 kg
Description	Min. dimensions
---	---
Overall length with footrest	975 mm
Effective seat width	390 mm
Overall width (depends on the seat width)	590 mm
mm	700 mm
Folded length (without footrest)	790 mm
Folded width	310 mm
Folded height (depends on seat height)	740 mm
Total mass	11,9 kg
Mass of heaviest part	7,5 kg
Masses of parts that can be dismantled or removed	Footrests: 1,45 kg **;

5° – 35°

Backrest height| 300 mm

350 mm

400 mm

Distance between footrest and seat| 400 mm| 520 mm
Angle between seat and footplate| 5°| 25°
Angle between seat and leg footrest| 105°
Angle between leg footrest and footplate| 80°
Distance between arm pad and seat| 120 mm| 180 mm
Handrim diameter| 535 mm
Horizontal location of axle (deflection)| 1,27 mm| 61,04 mm
Minimum turning radius| 1500 mm
Diameter PU Rear wheels| 22″| 24″
Tyre pressure, rear (driving) wheels| Max. 10 bar
Diameter PU steering wheels| 5”
Tyre pressure, steering wheels| Not applicable
Storage and use temperature| + 5 °C| + 41 °C
Storage and use humidity| 30%| 70%
---|---|---
We reserve the right to introduce technical changes. Measurement tolerance ± 15 mm / 1,5 kg / 1,5°