□ With transport package □ Without transport package Supplier: This manual must be given to the rider of this wheelchair Rider: Before using this wheelchair read this entire manual and save for future reference Freedom 2 Freedom 2 Kids By FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC. OPERATING MANUAL FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC. 2241 Madera Rd.
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Freedom Designs, Inc. Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids wheelchair. These chairs combine state-of-the-art technology with durability and function to meet all of your changing needs. This Operating Manual will provide you with a detailed guide for proper assembly as well as instructions on the care of your new wheelchair. Please follow the instructions carefully, paying special attention to the Safety Precaution section.
Table of Contents Page # Introduction Table of Contents General Warnings Weight Limit Every Wheelchair is Different Reduction of Risk of an Accident Safety Checklist Adjustments Environmental Conditions Terrain Street Use Motor Vehicle Safety Transport Option Assistance Warnings: Falls & Tip-Overs Center of Balance Dressing or Changing Clothes Wheelies Obstacles Reaching or Leaning Moving Backward Ramps, Slopes & Side Hills Transfer Curbs and Steps Stairs and Escalators Warnings: For Safe Use Transport Use
Page # Quick Release Axles Rear Wheels Rear Wheel Locks Modified Seating Systems Upholstery Fabric Initial Inspection Checklist Specifications Features Unfolding the Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Folding the Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Main Frame 1. Anti-Tips 2. Tires 3. Latch-Style Swing Away Hangers 4. Flip-up Individual Footplates 5. Angle Adjustable Footboard 6. Quick Release Axles 7. Swing Away/Removable Armrests 8. Seat and Back Sling 9. Casters 10. Push to Lock Wheel Locks 11. Wheel Lock Options 12.
General Warnings Warnings & Caution statements included in this manual describe conditions and unsafe practices which might result in bodily injury or property damage. Read this entire manual before assembly or operation of this wheelchair. If you do not understand any of the instructions in this manual, call your authorized Freedom Designs, Inc. dealer. Note: Where they apply, you will also find “Warnings” in other sections of this manual. Heed all warnings in this section.
W A R N I N G ! Adjustments 1. If you modify or adjust this chair, it may increases the risk of a tip-over UNLESS you make other changes as well. 2. Before any adjustments or modifications are made to your chair, consult your authorized Freedom Designs, Inc. dealer. 3. Do not remove the anti-tippers at any time. Removal may cause the chair to tip over. 4. Unauthorized modifications or use of parts not supplied or approved by Freedom Designs, Inc. may damage the chair structure.
Motor Vehicle Safety As identified on the front cover of this user manual, identify whether your chair has been manufactured with the Transport Option installed. W A R N I N G ! If your chair is not equipped with the Transport Option: Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids wheelchairs do not meet federal standards for motor vehicle seating. 1. NEVER let anyone sit in this chair while in a moving vehicle. a. ALWAYS move the rider to an approved vehicle seat. b.
WARNING: FALLS & TIP-OVERS W A R N I N G ! Center of Balance The point where this chair will tip forward, back or to the side depends on its center of balance and stability. How your chair is setup, the options you select and the changes you make affect the risk of fall or tip-over. 1. The Most Important Adjustments Are: a. The position of the rear wheels. The more you move the rear wheels forward, the more likely your chair will tip over backward. 2. The Center of Balance is Also Affected By: a.
W A R N I N G ! Obstacles Obstacles and road hazards (such as potholes and broken pavement), can damage your chair and may cause a fall, tip-over or loss of control. To avoid these risks: 1. Keep a lookout for danger—scan the area well ahead of your chair as you ride. 2. Make sure the floor area where you live and work are level and free of obstacles. 3. Remove or cover threshold strips between rooms. 4. Install a ramp at entry or exit doors. Make sure there is not a drop off at the bottom of the ramp. 5.
f. Firmly grasp a rear wheel or an armrest with one hand. This will help to prevent a fall if the chair tips. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. WARNING: Moving Backward Use extra care when you move backward. Your chair is not stable when you propel yourself rearward. You may lose control or tip over if one of the rear wheels hits and object and stops rolling. 1.
d. Surface. Flat and even, with a thin carpet or other nonskid material. (Make sure there is no lip, bump or depression). e. Bracing. Ramp must be STURDY. You may need a section at the top or bottom to smooth out the transition. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. WARNING: Transfer It is dangerous to transfer on your own. It requires good balance and agility.
Stairs and Escalators 1. NEVER use this chair on stairs UNLESS you have someone to help you. Doing so is likely to cause a fall or tip-over. 2. Persons who help you should read and follow the warnings “For Attendants”, (page 6) and the “For Safe Use”, (pages 11—13). 3. NEVER use this chair on an escalator, even with an attendant. If you do, a fall or tip-over is likely.
W A R N I N G ! Descending a Curb or Single Step Follow these steps to help a rider descend a curb or single step going down BACKWARD: 1. Stay at the rear of the chair. 2. Several feet before you reach the edge of the curb or step, turn the chair around and pull it backward. 3. While looking over your shoulder, carefully step back until you are off the curb or stair and standing on the lower level. 4. Pull the chair toward you until the rear wheels reach the edge of the curb or step.
frame. He or she lowers the chair one step at a time by letting the rear wheels roll over the stair edge. 5. The attendants move to the next stair down. Repeat for each stair, until you reach the landing. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. W A R N I N G ! Maintenance 1. Inspect and maintain this chair strictly per chart on page 41. 2.
BETWEEN 1 1/2” to 2” off the ground. a. If set too HIGH, they may not prevent a tip-over. b. If set too LOW, they may ”hang up” on obstacles you can expect in normal use. If this occurs, you may fall or your chair may tip over. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. W A R N I N G ! Armrests Armrests detach and will not bear weight of this chair. 1. NEVER lift this chair by the armrests.
Pneumatic Tires Proper inflation extends the life of your tires and makes your chair easier to use. 1. Do not use this chair if any of the tires is under or over inflated. Check weekly for proper inflation level, as listed on the tire sidewall. 2. Low pressure in a rear tire may cause the wheel lock on that side to slip AND allow the wheel to turn when you do not expect it. 3. Low pressure in any tires may cause the chair to veer to one side and result in a loss of control. 4. Over inflated tires may burst.
2. Check to make sure push handles grips will not rotate or slip off. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. Quick Release Axles 1. Do not use this chair UNLESS you are sure that both quick release axles are locked. An unlocked axle may come off during use and cause a fall. 2. An axle is not locked until the quick release button pops out fully.
3. Use of a seating system not approved by Freedom Designs, Inc. is prohibited for transportation use with Freedom Designs, Inc. Transport Option. If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others. W A R N I N G ! Upholstery Fabric 1. Sling fabric will weaken with age and use. Look for fraying or thin spots, stretching of fabrics at rivet holes. 2.
Initial Inspection Checklist The Freedom 2/Freedom 2 Kid is shipped in the following fashion: 1. The main frame with backposts, casters, tires, with quick release axles, armrests*, footplates or footboard and anti-tip tubes. (Refer to the Unfold instructions in this manual). 2. Seat Sling and sling back are standard. 3. Solid Seat & Back.** 4. Optional armrests could be attached to the solid seat insert. *Armrest might be optional, dependent upon frame. Freedom 2 **Solid Seat & Back Insert are optional.
Freedom 2 & Freedom 2 Kids Specifications Frame Configuration: Overall Width Overall Depth Standard Folding Freedom 2 Freedom 2 Kids Overall Width Folded (not including wheels & wheel locks) (not including wheels) Frame Length Freedom 2 Regular Freedom 2 Long Freedom 2 Kids Regular Freedom 2 Kids Long Traditional Bend Straight Freedom 2 Freedom 2 Kids Backpost Height Back Upholstery Height Seat Width Seat Depth Freedom 2 Freedom 2 Kids Frame Weight Seat Type Back Type Insert Colors Two Tone Upholste
Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Features 8 5 9 13 20 12 14 11 2 10 7 19 17 15 16 18 4 6 3 1. Base Frame 11. Backpost Trigger Mechanism 2. Swing Away Front Rigging 12. Sling Seat 3. Cross Brace 13. Sling Back 4. Flip Up Foot Plates 14. Cushion 5. Swing Away Removable Armrest 15. Caster Wheel 6. Anti-tip Tubes 16. Caster Fork 7. Axle Adjustment Plate 17. Wheel Lock 8. Push Handle 18. Rear Wheel 9. Backpost 19. Quick Release Axle 10. Backpost Pivot Plate 20.
Unfolding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids For ease of transporting and lifting, the chair can easily be unfolded and folded. Always engage the wheel locks by pushing forward or pulling back on the levers before unfolding the chair. (see page 35). 1. Place tires on quick release axles and push in until quick release push button “pops out” and tires are secure. 2. Unfolding is accomplished by applying even pressure on the seat rails and pushing down.
Unfolding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids Continued………... Freedom Designs, Inc. 3. Place the swing away/removable or “T” armrests in their receivers. 4. Place optional cushion on hook/loop strips on seat sling.
Unfolding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids Continued………... 5. To attach the swing away hanger (Freedom 2 & Freedom 2 Kids), line up the pivot saddle with it’s receiver on the frame and insert downward. Swing hanger inward until it locks into place. To attach the pop-up hanger place the pivot saddle into it’s receiver on the frame and push down until the hanger “clicks” into place Freedom Designs, Inc. 6. Flip down the footplates or attach the footboard and place them in a down position. (See pages 30-33).
Folding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids Always engage the wheel locks by pushing forward or pulling back on the levers before unfolding the chair. (see page 35). 1. Flip the individual footplates or remove the footboard. (See pages 30-33). 2. Freedom Designs, Inc. Pull back on the hanger release lever for either the latching swing away or pop-up hanger and lift the hanger off.
Folding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids continued………... 3. Remove optional cushion from sling 4. Lift and remove armrests. (The chairs can fold without removing the armrests). 5. Freedom Designs, Inc. Swing arm: “T” arm: Lift out of receiver tube. Push lever rearward and lift arm out of receiver socket.
Folding the Freedom 2/ Freedom 2 Kids Continued………... Freedom Designs, Inc. 6. Grip seat sling in the front and back and lift upward until chair folds flat laterally. 7.
Main Frame Anti-Tip Tubes Anti-tip tubes come standard on the Freedom 2/Freedom 2 Kids. These anti-tip tubes are not removable for your safety. Swivel anti-tip tube adjustment: 1. When the anti-tip tubes are in the downward position, swivel the anti-tip tube and turn inward to lock in an upright position. 2. When the anti-tip tubes are in the upright position, swivel the anti-tip tube and turn outward to lock in a downward position Flip-up anti-tip tube adjustment: 1.
Main Frame continued….. Latch Style Swing Away Hangers The Freedom 2 & Freedom 2 Kids frames ship standard with swing-away hangers in 75° or 90° 1. To swing away the hanger, place your hand on the hanger release lever. 2. Pull back on the lever towards the chair. This will enable the hanger to swing away for ease of transfer. 3. To remove the hanger, lift the hanger upward until the pivot saddle is out of it’s receiver on the frame. 4.
Main Frame continued….. Pop-Up Style Swing Away Hangers The Freedom 2 & Freedom 2 Kids frames my be shipped with optional pop-up hangers in 75° or 90° 1. To swing away the hanger, place your hand on the hanger release lever. 2. Pull back on the lever towards the chair. This will enable the hanger to pop-up and swing away for ease of transfer. 3. To remove the hanger, lift the hanger upward until the pivot saddle is out of it’s receiver on the frame. 4.
Main Frame continued….. Flip-up Individual Footplates The Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids is shipped with individual flip-up footplates (molded composite or angle adjustable aluminum) attached or a solid footboard unattached. Adjustment of the individual flip-up footplates are as follows: 1. The individual footplates easily flip by lifting underneath the footplate to flip up or push down on the footplate to flip down. 2.
Main Frame continued….. Flip-up Individual Aluminum Footplates with Angle Adjustment 1. To adjust the angle of the flip-up footplate, loosen the nylon nuts under the footplate. Set the foot plate at the desired angle and tighten. Angle Adjustable Footboard 1. Freedom Designs, Inc. To attach the footboard to the frame, place the footboard clamps on the frame. Set the clamps at the desired height. Insert the receiver into the clamps and tighten the 2 hex head screws on each side.
Main Frame continued….. Angle Adjustable Footboard……. Freedom Designs, Inc. 2. To remove the footboard for transfer, unscrew the knob assemblies underneath the receivers. Lift the footboard upward, out of the receivers. 3. To attach the footboard after transfer, align the footboard fittings into the receivers. Turn the knobs on each side to tighten. 4. To change the angle of the footboard, use an allen wrench and loosen the flat head screws on the top of the footboard.
Main Frame continued….. Angle Adjustable Footboard……. 5. To change the height of the footboard on the frame, loosen the 2 hex head screws on the footboard frame clamps. Set the desired height and tighten. The lowest point of the footrest plate should be at least 2 1/2” from the ground to ensure the proper clearance. Warning: In all footplate and hanger adjustments, be sure that all screws are tightened securely for your safety.
Main Frame continued….. Swing Away/Removable Armrests The Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids is shipped with swing away/removable armrests. To remove armrests, grasp armrest and lift out of receiver. These armrests are tubular with foam grips. Optional Arms “T” Arm To remove the “T” arm, push lever rearward and lift arm out of receiver socket. Flip Back Arm Flip back arms are non removable. They are available in either locking or non-locking. Sling backs require a “cut-out” for installation of flip arm.
Main Frame continued….. Seat and Back Sling The Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids comes standard with seat and back sling upholstery. This upholstery is made of ballistic nylon for durability and long wear. The seat sling is tension adjustable for growth. Casters The Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids comes shipped with either 3” polyurethane casters with a 3” caster fork or 5”, 6”, 7” pneumatic casters with 6” caster fork.
Main Frame continued….. Wheel lock Options The Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids also offers wheel lock options of: rear mount pull to lock, rear mount push to lock, wheel lock extensions and hub locks. Hub Lock* 1. To lock the wheels, push the Hub Lock lever. This will lock the wheels in place. 2. To unlock the wheel, pull the Hub Lock lever. This will unlock the wheels and allow them to roll. *Patent Pending Folding Back The Freedom 2 Kids come standard with a folding back (optional on Freedom 2). 1.
Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Adjustments Swing Away Arm To adjust the height of the armrests, loosen the hex head bolts and move the receiver clamp to desired height. Tighten the hex head bolts securely. “T” Arm To adjust the height of the “T” arm, rotate lever outward. Lift or lower arm pad to desired height and rotate lever back to forward position to lock in place. Flip Arm / Locking Arm To adjust height of armrests, loosen and remove the bolts and nuts holding the arm to the backpost tube.
Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Adjustments continued……….. Caster Fork Adjustment Interchanging casters can easily be done with dual hole caster forks. Currently, 3”, 5” , 6” and 7” casters are available for use. A smaller fork is used with the 3” caster only. To adjust, loosen the bolt and remove the caster. Change the caster and/or position the caster upward or downward in pre-drilled holes on the caster fork. Replace the bolt and tighten securely.
Freedom 2 / Freedom 2 Kids Adjustments continued……….. Rear Axle Adjustment The position of the rear axle is the most critical adjustment on the Freedom 2 family of wheelchairs. The center of gravity and the seat height position are all determined by the axle adjustment. Warning: Your healthcare professional should assist you in adjusting the axle position. Position of the axle will be based on your abilities and limitations. Fixed Back Frame 1.
Cleaning It is important to, for optimum performance to clean and maintain your Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids. We recommend that the frame finish be cleaned with mild soap and water. Maintenance 1. In order to operate the Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids properly and safely, routine maintenance will extend the life and efficiency of your wheelchair. Safety Inspection Checklist Follow these maintenance procedures for the optimum performance of your Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids wheelchair. 1.
Troubleshooting All Freedom 2 and Freedom 2 Kids wheelchairs leave the factory inspected and adjusted for immediate use, (aside from the unfolding procedure). This troubleshooting chart offers some suggestions regarding the use of your wheelchair. Some areas may require more investigation to find the most suitable solution for a specific problem. A complete inspection, safety check and servicing should be made by an authorized dealer at least once a year.
Summary Congratulations on your Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids purchase. Following is a brief summary to refer to if you have any questions. Remember: the entire Operating Manual should be read before your new chair is used. For any questions, please call your authorized Freedom Designs, Inc. dealer or Freedom Designs, Inc. customer service at 1-800-331-8551. (Always lock the push to lock/pull to lock wheel locks before adjusting the wheelchair). Unfolding the Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Index Adjustments Aluminum Handrims Angle Adjustable Footboard Anti-tip Tubes Armrests Armrest Adjustments Assistance Axle Height Adjustment Plate Backposts Backpost Adjustment Plate Backpost Pivot Plate Bending Canopy Casters Caster Forks Caster Fork Adjustment Caution Center of Balance Cleaning Climbing a Curb or Step Climbing Stairs Color Curbs & Steps Cushion & Sling Seat Depth Doctor Descending a Curb or Step Descending Stairs Dressing or Changing Clothes Environmental Conditions Every Wheelchair is Di
Freedom 2 & Freedom 2 Kids Limited Warranty Freedom Designs, Inc. warrants the Freedom 2 or Freedom 2 Kids frame and quick release axles on all models against defects in material and workmanship for a lifetime of the original purchaser. All manufactured and distributed parts and components, (including frame components, axle plates, caster plates, armrests, backrests, etc.), are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year from purchase date.
