The Electric Wheelchair George Klein

George johnn klein design engineer b at hamilton ont 15 aug 1904.

The electric wheelchair george klein.

The first electric wheelchair. George johann klein oc mbe august 15 1904 november 4 1992 was a hamilton ontario born canadian inventor who is often called the most productive inventor in canada in the 20th century. Possibly the most productive inventor in canada in the 20th century he spanned in his career the stick and string era of aviation to the space shuttle. National research council of canada the first electric wheelchair was developed by one of canada s most.

An electrically propelled tricycle was developed by the r a. The first electric powered wheelchair was invented by canadian inventor george klein and his team of engineers while working for the national research council of canada in a program to assist the injured veterans returning after world war ii. Early electric wheelchairs were essentially standard wheelchairs with a motor attached. D at ottawa 4 nov 1992.

Photo courtesy of the national research council of canada. Harding company in england in the 1930s. George klein invented the electric wheelchair after world war ii to assist quadriplegics. In this month s edition of the innovators explore the.

Klein one of canada s most prolific inventors is credited with dreaming up many of the key features of the electric wheelchair. George klein also invented the microsurgical staple gun. In many ways george klein meche 2t8 rivaled thomas edison alexander graham bell and other icons in the scope of his inventiveness and impact certainly in his effect on society. But one of the most vivid examples is the development of the first mass produced electric wheelchair a design known in its day as the klein chair.

Atypical collaboration is at the core of thousands of innovations in the healthcare engineering field and more than a few involve klein. Although he struggled as a high school student he eventually graduated from the university of toronto his inventions include key contributions to the first electric wheelchairs for quadriplegics the. The electric powered wheelchair was invented by george klein who worked for the national research council of canada to assist injured veterans after world war ii. An electric wheelchair is propelled by batteries which allow.

The first electric wheelchair was the klein drive chair which was invented by canadian inventor george klein and his team in 1953.