About Us
Material
- We follow ASTM safety standards and voluntary standards for products used by youth (toys).
- We use clear Lexan which is a FDA certified medical grade polymer
- Our material is under 1/4" thick, scratch resistant, UV resistant and high impact strength
- The wheelchair decorations are manufactured with soft gentle edges
Printing
- Rolling Buddies unique triple layer printing process ensures scratch resistance
- Our ink is scratch resistant as well and UV stabilized
- All inks are environmental friendly too
Hardware Kit
- Tough, corrosion resistant injection molded Nylon 6/6 horseshoe hardware
- 3M medical grade polyethylene foam tape with excellent conformability, temperature and water resistant
- Rolling Buddies only uses Velcro brand One-Wrap and excepts no imitations
Material
- We follow ASTM safety standards and voluntary standards for products used by youth (toys).
- We use flexible, thin, and white polystyrene which is a FDA certified medical grade polymer
- Our material is scratch resistant and UV resistant
Printing
- Rolling Buddies unique printing process ensures scratch resistance
- Our ink is scratch resistant as well and UV stabilized
- All inks are environmental friendly too
Hardware Kit
- Tough, corrosion resistant injection molded Nylon 6/6 horseshoe hardware
- 3M medical grade polyethylene foam tape with excellent conformability, temperature and water resistant
- Rolling Buddies only uses Velcro brand One-Wrap and excepts no imitations
- Extruded Nylon 6 stiffener with 3M foam tape same as above
For a long time entrepreneur Jason Carr owner and founder of Heart Mobility had been wanting to make a pediatric wheelchair that was more like a big toy then a functional wheelchair. The main reason being kids want to be kids and kids in wheelchairs often do not have as many opportunities to be kids. So after nearly two years of working on the idea and finding no great solution he was about to give up.
A few months later Jason and his wife Melissa were on there way back from Florida visiting family and they started to discuss the pediatric wheelchair idea. Many ideas came around in the car on that long 24 hour drive from Florida to Michigan. But only one made sense and allowed kids in wheelchairs to customize and decorate there wheelchairs. Jason had thought that with all the functionality of every different wheelchair that it was very hard to make a toy for a kid that also had to do all his or her day to day functions that they needed. Almost together they shouted, "what about an add on panel that is in the shape of a cartoon character or something like that." Melissa and Jason thought it was an amazing idea and our Wheelchair Decorations product was born.
When Jason got back he had an artist friend whip up a quick rendering to show to people and get there feedback about the idea and potential product. Jason was overwhelmed when everyone he showed it to thought it was an amazing idea. One long time friend of Jason's Kevin King his best man at his wedding and best friend said he wanted to get involved and would be willing to help build the idea and the brand. Rolling Buddies, LLC was formed in March 2015.
Within a few weeks Jason and Kevin ordered all kinds of attachment methods and started to develop the idea of attaching to the wheelchair. After a few weeks of testing and prototyping the guys had figured it out. With just a simple but strong attachment method that can have the Wheelchair Decorations easily attached and easily removed for transportation. The guys pondered on there great discovery and thought maybe it was patentable. After speaking with a lawyer it was discovered that the idea was novel and the patent process was started. In March 2015 Rolling Buddies received a Provisional Patent from the patent office.
In April 2015 Kevin and Jason began production on the first Wheelchair decorations. Each wheelchair decoration is printed on a state-of-the-art UV printer with a special three layer print process. Then each sheet of Polycarbonate is laid out on the CNC router to be uniquely cut using special tools to round and form every edge. Special care is then taken to clean, buff and assemble every kit for shipment to our customers.
Today Rolling Buddies continues to customize and delight kids from all over the world with there designs. The wheelchair decorations come in three unique sizes; small, medium and large. Each shape is made from a very strong plastic called Polycarbonate. Rolling Buddies also takes special care with all of its shapes making sure there are no sharp corners and that the edges are perfectly smooth.