An Erskine wheelchair user has launched a fundraiser to help cover patent-protection costs for a wheelchair heating project.
Safir Ahmad, founder of Safir Innovations Ltd, became a full-time wheelchair user after a motorbike accident in 2022.
His experience of using manual and powered wheelchairs in cold weather led him to explore heating built into areas users touch, including wheelchair controls.
The project is at an early stage. Safir said he has tried an early version himself and filed a UK patent application. Further engineering and safety testing will be needed before the idea could become a product.
He said: “My experience of using both manual and powered wheelchairs in cold weather led me to explore an idea for heating built into important wheelchair contact and control areas.”
The GoFundMe is intended to support the next patent-protection costs. The page lists professional patent work, an international patent application and related filing and drawing costs.
Safir said: “The fundraiser supports my private limited business; donations are not investments or product pre-orders.”
The fundraiser can be viewed on GoFundMe, here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-safir-develop-wheelchair-heating-for-cold-days.
Headline photo: Safir Ahmad founder of Safir Innovations Ltd
Photo Credit: Safir Ahmad