Mealtime Partners Flex Arm Mounting Products for Slide-Track
Mealtime Partners provides five different length Flex Arm Mounting Systems for mounting Adaptive Switches, or other user-provided devices, to wheelchairs that have Slide-Track rails found on many newer model powered wheelchairs. Mounting plates appropriate for specific switches must be purchased separately and added to the mounting systems. (Mounting plate kits are available for Micro Light Adaptive Switches, Jelly Bean Adaptive Switches, and Mini Cup/Specs Adaptive Switches at the bottom of this webpage.)
Slide-Tracks are slotted tracks (or, rails) that are used for mounting parts and accessories at several locations on many of the newer model powered wheelchairs. UniTrack is a dual-slot rail version that is used for mounting parts and accessories on many Permobil wheelchairs. It is unique in that it has two slots on each rail, and the slots are slightly smaller, which will requires a different size T-Nut than the standard T-Nut. (The size will be specified when ordering the mounting product: Option 1 for UniTrack and Option 2 for Standard-Track.) Common locations include the sides of the seat base, under the arm rests and on the wheelchair back. Some of the slide-tracks have end pieces that fit into the ends of the rails to provide a smooth end to the track. The end pieces can be removed by pulling them out for installing accessories, and reinstalled after the accessory has been attached.
All of the Mealtime Partners Mounting Systems include a Flex Arm Holder for Slide-Track, and a Flex Arm of user selected length (5 lengths from 6-inches to 30-inches are available), and a "ball and socket" swivel end-section that is installed at the end of the Flex Arm. The Flex Arm Holder for Slide-Track can be mounted vertically or horizontally on Slide-Track rails using the slot in the Track. This allows positioning of the Flex Arm in the most appropriate location for the application. The inner clamp of the Flex Arm Holder for Slide-Track is installed on the wheelchair Slide-Track using the hex key that is provided. Once it is installed on the Slide-Track, that tool is no longer needed. However, another tool (i.e., another hex key) is provided for installing the outer clamp body that holds the Flex Arm. Because the installation requires tools, it is a relatively permanent installation unlike the Flex Arm Holder with Knobs for Slide-Track (Part Number 4971) that can be opened and closed with fingers instead of a hex key.
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Flex
Arm Mounting Systems for Mounting Adaptive Switches on
Wheelchairs with Slide-Track The following pictures show Flex Arm Mounting Systems with the appropriate switch mounting plates. |
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Micro Light Switch Mounted for Head
Control
(with 18-inch Flex Arm Mount) Mini Cup Switch Mounted for Head Control (with 12-inch Flex Arm Mount) |
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Jelly Bean Switch Mounted for Hand Control
(with 12-inch Flex Arm Mount) Jelly Bean Switch Mounted for Elbow Control (with 18-inch Flex Arm Mount) |
To attach an Adaptive Switch to a Flex Arm Mounting System using one of the Mealtime Partners Mounting Plate Kits (listed below), select the Adaptive Switch Mounting Plate that is appropriate for the Adaptive Switch that is going to be mounted. Next, determine the length of Flex Arm needed to mount the switch. (The overall length of the mounting system is approximately the length of the Flex Arm plus 3-inches.) Attach the Mounting Plate to the ball and socket end of the Switch Mount. Attach the Adaptive Switch to the plate. The mounting system is now ready to be attached to a wheelchair.
The Flex Arm and ball-and-socket end section come fully assembled. The Flex Arm is "heavy duty" and when bent into the desired shape, will hold the position firmly. The ball and socket end section is not quite as strong which permits further bending, or swiveling. However, it is also rigid and is not easy to reposition unintentionally.
| Description of the Mealtime Partners Flex Arm Mounting System |
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The Mealtime Partners Flex Arm Mounting System is comprised of a Mealtime Partners Flex Arm Holder for Slide-Track (MtP Part No. 4970, a Flex Arm, and a ball-and-socket end section. The Flex Arm and end section come fully assembled. The pictures below, illustrate the swiveling capability of the end section. The last ball-section has an embedded 1/4"-20 machine nut, permitting a 1/4"-20 x 3/4" long screw (or longer, depending on the thickness of the device being attached) to be screwed onto the Mounting System. (The hole for the screw is shown below, bottom right.) |
 Flex Arm Mounting System with 12-Inch Flex Arm  Ball and Socket Swivel Arm End-Section |
 Swivel Arm End-Section Illustration  Swivel Arm End-Section Screw Hole |
This page last updated 12-28-2018