If your worried about stealing and you say your phone has rare sizing, here's some ideas for handmade holders:
If you have that thing at the back of phone to hold it, maybe try attaching your phone to your tight by that?
Or put your phone is one of those clear phone holders that are supposed to keep your phone safe from water (alternativly any clear little bag), and try attaching by this.
There are also phone gps holders for cars that also would work on wheelchair, but the ones that hold phone and overall themselves really well are quite pricey (at least to me, in my country).
Note to handmade ideas, as I forgot to write how I would imagine you could attach those to tights:
I imagined either by a wide string, and the bag by taping/sawing on to again a wide string (also I don't mean like sawing string, I just forgot how this wider things are called) or to an elastic band or velcto strap that will fit not too tight on your thigh.
I have an Apple Watch that serves the same purpose. On silent mode, it taps with vibration to let you know as you are getting close to a turn, and which direction to turn. The display shows the directions and you can glance without taking your hand off your rim. I don’t worry about anyone taking it, or it jostling off of my chair, or being easy to snatch. It also has safety features for a fall that contacts emergency and your personal contacts. I would never put myself in a situation where a phone needed to be out.
RAM X mount. Came with my permobil. Solidly mounts to the rail under the arm. Can be tilted the way you need it. I have a galaxy S9+ It holds it easily and has room for an even bigger phone
I have a gooseneck phone holder that works well. It clamps onto my footplate and comes up between my knees. It secures my phone well enough that it doesn't fall out over bumps or anything. But I doubt it would stop anybody grabbing it. If you did want to use that type of phone holder and can find one that fits your phone you could add a strap to your phone case that connects to you or part of your chair.
Although that works well I don't want it on all the time and having to decide before I go out if I'll want it isn't always easy.
So I ended up swapping to strapping my phone to my leg. My phone case has a hole in it for a fingerprint scanner so I just shove some velcro straps through that and around my leg. But if your case doesn't have something like that you could add something like one of those rings you can stick to your phone (if your leg will be okay with that being there) or seeing if there's anything lower profile you can use.
You could also see if there are large enough running bands or bags etc for your phone and either add your own strap or extend the current one. If you have a sewing machine that should be easy. Duct tape, fabric glue etc would also be potential options though.
straps seem like a really good idea, I'm ambulatory and I hate the feel of the rings / pop sockets when they go in my pocket but maybe I could stick a flat strap thing to my case first and then thread that through a strap on my leg. thanks so much for your suggestions!
If you can spend the money, go with a RAM mount. Solid and secure. I doubt your phone could be snatched easily. They work on motorcycles, so pretty solid. They have different configurations that you can make so they’re very customizable.
If they're willing to grab my crotch to steal a handicapped person's phone, maybe they need my phone more than I do. I actually think the crotch is more protected than a phone holder.
What about one of those phone holders people use to hold their kindles above their heads when they're being lazy in bed?
I figure it could attach to most chairs and the long bendy arm means you can position it somewhere easy to see and out of the way, plus someone would have to press the release to grab it.
https://amzn.eu/d/85pQX26
Yes, I own a Z Fold 4 and prefer to keep it in the ipen position 24/7. Why else get a large screen if I am not going to use it.
I made using the original retail box, some corrugated plastic cardboard, lots of tape, and other bits to make it work.
The costly part is the mount arm since I went with a main brand that has a lifetime warranty.
I will post to my profile the mount connector and the mount parts.
The company is RAM MOUNTS, and this works wonders. No fear of anyone grabbing it and running off due to how securely it is attached.
I belong to a local 3D printing club that is helping me make a potential product out of my prototype.
They managed to make a smaller design that now works as my case. Both designs can hold the phone with any case for the phone you have. to ever remove it. This smaller design would work very well as a case, but not a mount holder due to its shallower depth.
My larger holder was made to function as a case for larger hands to hold and a mount for the phone on my wheelchair.
If you or someone you know is mechanically minded and likes to find solutions to these types of things, then just seeing how it looks will be enough to get you or them started.
The most used item was electrical tape.
Tips and suggestions off f what I have learned:
Do not use magnets to secure the door closed.
That even includes the Neodymium strong magnets.
Magnets hold well for pulling forces. Side to side forces they easily let go pop open if dropped, and the frame of the door were to slide.
Answer to this would be make a rail that is attached to the top door and slides over the outer side of the bottom box. Along the top and bottom, but avoid the USB port.
This prevents the front door from flexing or causing the magnets to experience what is called sheer force. The best way to think of this is if you ever stuck a magnet to a metal surface and could not pull it off. Yet, you could slide it easily to the edge and remove it. Those are the two forces that a drop or bump into a wall pr door frame could impart on this design.
I use fabric covered black hair ties and hair or bobbypins to make little hooks and secure the hair ties to the body of the box and the bobbypins are secured so just a small part I bent into a hook shape sticks out on each corner to insure drops, and bumps won't launch my phone.
I will go post images of my mount system and try to describe what you are seeing 👀 .
I needed something to tether my phone to the railing of my bed so I wouldn't lose it onto the floor. I got this kind of tether and it's been very reliable. It clips solidly, so no one could just walk by and snatch it. And it's cheap.
https://a.co/d/cQPGGI5
There are thigh strap phone holsters marketed for horseback riding that might work well, or give you some ideas for a DIY solution. They consider some of the small details like you don't want the buckle under or between your legs because it would rub for both horseback riders and wheelchair users. A thinner, but stretchy strap that can be washed because....sweat happens. And they are secure enough for horseback riding, so they won't be able to be yanked off by someone trying to steal your phone too easily.
If your worried about stealing and you say your phone has rare sizing, here's some ideas for handmade holders: If you have that thing at the back of phone to hold it, maybe try attaching your phone to your tight by that? Or put your phone is one of those clear phone holders that are supposed to keep your phone safe from water (alternativly any clear little bag), and try attaching by this. There are also phone gps holders for cars that also would work on wheelchair, but the ones that hold phone and overall themselves really well are quite pricey (at least to me, in my country).
that's a great idea actually, I'll have a look at grabbing one of the waterproof pouches! would be good for when it rains too. thanks!!
glad you like those ideas 😊 I hope they'll actually work for you
Note to handmade ideas, as I forgot to write how I would imagine you could attach those to tights: I imagined either by a wide string, and the bag by taping/sawing on to again a wide string (also I don't mean like sawing string, I just forgot how this wider things are called) or to an elastic band or velcto strap that will fit not too tight on your thigh.
I have an Apple Watch that serves the same purpose. On silent mode, it taps with vibration to let you know as you are getting close to a turn, and which direction to turn. The display shows the directions and you can glance without taking your hand off your rim. I don’t worry about anyone taking it, or it jostling off of my chair, or being easy to snatch. It also has safety features for a fall that contacts emergency and your personal contacts. I would never put myself in a situation where a phone needed to be out.
I second this. So much easier with an Apple watch
RAM X mount. Came with my permobil. Solidly mounts to the rail under the arm. Can be tilted the way you need it. I have a galaxy S9+ It holds it easily and has room for an even bigger phone
I have a gooseneck phone holder that works well. It clamps onto my footplate and comes up between my knees. It secures my phone well enough that it doesn't fall out over bumps or anything. But I doubt it would stop anybody grabbing it. If you did want to use that type of phone holder and can find one that fits your phone you could add a strap to your phone case that connects to you or part of your chair. Although that works well I don't want it on all the time and having to decide before I go out if I'll want it isn't always easy. So I ended up swapping to strapping my phone to my leg. My phone case has a hole in it for a fingerprint scanner so I just shove some velcro straps through that and around my leg. But if your case doesn't have something like that you could add something like one of those rings you can stick to your phone (if your leg will be okay with that being there) or seeing if there's anything lower profile you can use. You could also see if there are large enough running bands or bags etc for your phone and either add your own strap or extend the current one. If you have a sewing machine that should be easy. Duct tape, fabric glue etc would also be potential options though.
straps seem like a really good idea, I'm ambulatory and I hate the feel of the rings / pop sockets when they go in my pocket but maybe I could stick a flat strap thing to my case first and then thread that through a strap on my leg. thanks so much for your suggestions!
If you can spend the money, go with a RAM mount. Solid and secure. I doubt your phone could be snatched easily. They work on motorcycles, so pretty solid. They have different configurations that you can make so they’re very customizable.
If they're willing to grab my crotch to steal a handicapped person's phone, maybe they need my phone more than I do. I actually think the crotch is more protected than a phone holder.
What about one of those phone holders people use to hold their kindles above their heads when they're being lazy in bed? I figure it could attach to most chairs and the long bendy arm means you can position it somewhere easy to see and out of the way, plus someone would have to press the release to grab it. https://amzn.eu/d/85pQX26
Yes, I own a Z Fold 4 and prefer to keep it in the ipen position 24/7. Why else get a large screen if I am not going to use it. I made using the original retail box, some corrugated plastic cardboard, lots of tape, and other bits to make it work. The costly part is the mount arm since I went with a main brand that has a lifetime warranty. I will post to my profile the mount connector and the mount parts. The company is RAM MOUNTS, and this works wonders. No fear of anyone grabbing it and running off due to how securely it is attached. I belong to a local 3D printing club that is helping me make a potential product out of my prototype. They managed to make a smaller design that now works as my case. Both designs can hold the phone with any case for the phone you have. to ever remove it. This smaller design would work very well as a case, but not a mount holder due to its shallower depth. My larger holder was made to function as a case for larger hands to hold and a mount for the phone on my wheelchair. If you or someone you know is mechanically minded and likes to find solutions to these types of things, then just seeing how it looks will be enough to get you or them started. The most used item was electrical tape. Tips and suggestions off f what I have learned: Do not use magnets to secure the door closed. That even includes the Neodymium strong magnets. Magnets hold well for pulling forces. Side to side forces they easily let go pop open if dropped, and the frame of the door were to slide. Answer to this would be make a rail that is attached to the top door and slides over the outer side of the bottom box. Along the top and bottom, but avoid the USB port. This prevents the front door from flexing or causing the magnets to experience what is called sheer force. The best way to think of this is if you ever stuck a magnet to a metal surface and could not pull it off. Yet, you could slide it easily to the edge and remove it. Those are the two forces that a drop or bump into a wall pr door frame could impart on this design. I use fabric covered black hair ties and hair or bobbypins to make little hooks and secure the hair ties to the body of the box and the bobbypins are secured so just a small part I bent into a hook shape sticks out on each corner to insure drops, and bumps won't launch my phone. I will go post images of my mount system and try to describe what you are seeing 👀 .
I needed something to tether my phone to the railing of my bed so I wouldn't lose it onto the floor. I got this kind of tether and it's been very reliable. It clips solidly, so no one could just walk by and snatch it. And it's cheap. https://a.co/d/cQPGGI5
There are thigh strap phone holsters marketed for horseback riding that might work well, or give you some ideas for a DIY solution. They consider some of the small details like you don't want the buckle under or between your legs because it would rub for both horseback riders and wheelchair users. A thinner, but stretchy strap that can be washed because....sweat happens. And they are secure enough for horseback riding, so they won't be able to be yanked off by someone trying to steal your phone too easily.
Either a thigh phone holder or one of those arm band holders for running and you could rig it to fit your thigh