housewares competition entry book
DESCRIPTION
My entry book in the International Housewares Student Competition.TRANSCRIPT
Multi-Tool SystemEntry #469
Table of Contents
Phase I
Research
Phase II
Ideation and Study Model
Phase III
Refinement and Final Concept
3 Problem Statement
4 Research
10 Benchmarking
14 Ideation
16 Chosen Concept
18 Study Model
22 Revised Orthographic
24 CAD Modeling
28 User Storyboard
30 Logo Development
31 Presentation Materials
#469
Problem Statement
Homeowners’ garages and sheds can often be cluttered and space is
frequently at a premium. Many tools such as brooms, shovels, mops, and
rakes are required to maintain a house and the property surrounding it and
many of them have long handles which can make them very awkward to
store. They can be hung on the wall, but any wall space below the rack is
wasted. Tools are also a tripping hazard and look disorderly propped in the
corner of the garage. Is there a better way to store long handled tools in
garages and sheds?
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3
1User Analysis
Based on the findings above, homeowners own the
most tools, showing they have the largest need for
compact tool storage. Even if they have many tools, the
results showed that they were willing to pay only slightly
more for a system that saved space, which meant that
it must be simple to manufacture and efficiently use
materials. Respondents also stated that they would
replace their tools only when the old ones wore out;
showing that the solution should be able to be
purchased as needed and be able to be phased
into the user’s environment.
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4
Eleven potential
users were given
questionnaires asking
about their usage of
long handled tools.
Average number of
tools owned: 6-10.
Average use: one to
four times a month.
Most used tool is the
broom.
Most were stored in the
garage with some
stored in a closet or
shed.
Majority willing to pay
$10-20 for a product
that aids storage.
Almost no one would
buy a new space
saving tool until their old
ones wear out.
They are willing to pay
10-20% more for a
space saving tool.
Observing Current Storage Environment
Looking at garages, I found the two most common ways to store
tools are to either prop them up against the wall or to hang them
from the wall. Propping them up is a tripping hazard and could
damage the end of the tool. Hanging them on the wall prevents
the utilization of the area below as the handles hang down and
take up space.
Disorganized
and unsightly
Tools could be
damaged
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5
anized a
nsightlyn
Wasted wall space
Visiting Stores
I took a research trip to local stores to see what they had to offer in terms of space saving tools.
•Wal-Mart had brooms which had heads that screwed off and attached to a handle, but the
overall build quality was poor and dealing with the long handle was still an issue.
•Home Depot only had tools with thick wooden handles, which is most likely meant to give off a
tough, manly branding image, but doesn’t do anything to aid storage
•The Target location I went to did not have any outdoor tools that I could find, but the indoor
mops that they had did not attempt to address storage.
Emphasis on large
beefy handles at
Home Depot
$9.97 at
Walmart
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6
Online Market Examples
Palmyra
Push Broom
$7.00
Inexpensive,
bristles snap to
the handle
Poor build
quality,
handle
does not
collapse
Bond
Adjustable
Steel Rake
$9.16
Tines collapse,
inexpensive
Tines look
fragile, handle
does not
collapse
Effol
Collapsible
Broom
$18.00
Separates into
storable parts
Plastic handle
can break,
parts can get
lost
Base Runner
Rake
$75.95
Appears
sturdy,
compact
design
Expensive,
parts could
get lost
Name/Price Pros Cons
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7
Applicable Technology
Screwing on the head
saves space, but could
be tedious.
The Red Cross
distributes clean
up tools with
changeable
heads.
Push button extending rods are
useful, but they are small and
can pinch fingers.
As I searched for usable technologies, I found a few that might be applicable to the project.
•Telescoping rods tend to utilize a push tab locking mechanism, which is sturdy, but fairly difficult
to press due to the small size and the risk of pinching yourself during operation.
•The Red Cross distributes clean up kits with exchangeable broom heads in order to save
transport space, but these kits are not available in the market.
•The screw-on broom heads at Wal-Mart did save some space but the screwing action might
become tedious after repeated operation and a easier to use mechanism might be preferred.
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8
Environmental and Economic Benefits
Environmental
•Smaller packages reduce
waste and save energy in
the shipping process.
•The product emphasizes
the idea of versatility over
bigger is better.
•The aluminum used in the
telescoping handle is
recyclable and the
modular nature will make
disassembling for recycling
simpler.
Economical
•Having a collapsible set of tools
allows for much more efficient
shipping.
•Combining multiple tools into
one product lowers the overall
cost as less materials are used
to perform the same function.
•The space saving feature is a
selling point that increases the
potential value to consumers.
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9
Appearance Benchmarking
Personality Form Materials Color Details
Utilitarian,
Basic
Rectilinear,
Follows
Function
Wood,
Metal
Metal,
Wood,
Red
Basic,
Support
Bars
Utilitarian,
Bare Bones
Basic,
Follows
Function
Wood,
Metal
Wood,
Metal
Basic,
No Frills
Gadgety,
Quirky
Asymmet-
rical,
Blocky
Polymer,
Metal
Metal,
Black,
Blue
Telescoping
Handle
Playful,
Inviting
Organic,
Symmetrical
Painted and
Unpainted
Metal
Vibrant
Green,
Metal
Clean,
Painted
Metal
Utilitarian,
Gadgety
Mechanical Metal Metal,
Black
Exposed
Mechan-
isms
Basic,
Everyday
Structural,
Follows
Function
Plastic,
Metal
Black,
Metal
Hand grip,
Ribbed
Tines
Simple,
Playful
Gentle
Curving
Body
Metal,
Transparent
Plastic
Bright,
Clean
Colors on
White
Clean,
Smooth
Finish
Basic Yet
Innovative
Follows
Function
Metal,
Paint
Metal,
Bright
Yellow
Wings
to Hold
Dirt
TARGET AREA
Sturdy,
Inviting,
Friendly
Gentle
Curves,
Flowing,
Intuitive
Aluminum
or Steel,
ABS
Muted
Primaries or
Secondaries
Simple
Controls,
Clean
Surfaces
#469
Appearance Benchmarking
TARGET AREA
Utilitarian Inviting
Fragile
Rugged
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11
Design Language
Personality: Sturdy, Inviting, Friendly
Form: Gentle Curves,
Flowing and Intuitive
Materials: Aluminum
or Steel with ABS Parts
Color: Muted Primaries
or Secondaries as Accents
Details: Simple Controls,
Clean Surfaces
Rugged Approachability describes the feel of the product as it relates to the user. The personality
of the design must be approachable and friendly so the multiple parts and attachments to the
product will not become intimidating. This is achieved through gently curving forms and inviting
colors. The materials will be durable aluminum and ABS parts that show that even if the design is
compact, it isn’t compromising on durability. The button details will be designed semantically
and will allow the user to instinctively know how the product operates.
RUGGED APPROACHABILITY
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Concept Ideation
At this point I started creating ideation sketches exploring the problem of tool storage
and different ways of compacting a long handle.
One of my concepts
involved a folding
handle based on a
tension wire running
through it.
Another involved a rail on which to hang tool
heads that doubled as a handle.
14
#469
Slight TwistSlight TTwwistst Locked
The idea I ended up pursuing uses a single collapsible handle with individual
interchangeable tool heads, all of which are stored on a wall mounted rack.
Collapsible Handle
Swappable
Tool Heads
Wall Mount to Hold Tool Heads
15
#469
Heads and handle are held
on wall mounted rack.
Top button collapses handle,
bottom one releases the attached head.
Tabs lock into head until
button is pressed.
releases the a
Heads and handle are held
Tabs loc
button is
Heads and handle are held
on wall mounted rack.
apses han
tached he
n
e
nddnd
ea
d
add.
ddleeeleeleeeee,e,e,
k into head
s pressed.
t untttil
Chosen Concept #469
16
Telescoping Switch
Head Release Button
Handle Socket (Integrated into Tool Head)
Head Locking Tabs
Rubberized End Cap
Clips for Heads
Holder for
Collapsed HandleAluminum Handle
Initial Orthographic Views
After finalizing my core concept I created an initial orthographic
rendering and proceeded to make a study model to examine
the human factors and mechanisms involved.
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17
There are two main interactions required to use this
product: telescoping the handle and
attaching/detaching the tool heads.
The handle slides freely as two nesting tubes until it
reaches maximum extension and the switch locks in. The
switch on the midpoint of the handle must be pressed to
collapse the handle again.
The end of the handle clips into the head and locks in
place. The handle is then bent forward to pry the end
from the wall clip for use. Once the tool is ready to be
put away, the head is pushed back in the clip and the
sliding switch on the handle is pressed to retract the
locking wings and free the handle from the head.
Study Model: Use #469
18
The handle is approximately 62 inches long.
This means that for most users the fully
extended handle will reach from the floor
to the head and from the floor to the waist
while collapsed. The handle should be long
enough to effectively use while extended,
but short enough to store easily when col-
lapsed. Overall the final handle should be
about half a foot shorter than on the study
model to fit a larger range of people.
The buttons are placed on the midpoint of
the handle allowing people with smaller
arms to press them and interact with the
end of the handle without having to reach
long distances.
The rack holding the tool heads would be
mounted on the wall just above knee
height to make it easy to insert the handle
into the tool from above.
Study Model: Human Factors #469
The end of the handle has two spring-loaded “wings”
that lock the tool head onto the handle. There is a wire
running from the wings to the recessed side switch in the
middle of the handle (right photo). Sliding the switch will
collapse the wings in order to release the tool head
(middle photo).
The lever switch in the middle of the handle allows it to
collapse to half of its extended length when the lever lifts
a tab out of a hole in the smaller pipe to allow the tube
to slide freely.
Study Model: Mechanisms #469
20
Things I observed while
building and testing my
study model:
All of the docking mecha-
nisms work correctly but
the end of the handle
should be tapered to
allow easier docking with
the tool heads.
The handle could use
some kind of internal stop
to prevent the two halves
from coming completely
apart even when the
button is pressed.
I need to investigate
further how the wall
mounted clips are going
to be laid out.
The clips should tilt slightly
forward so the handle
does not need to be flat
against the wall while
docking with the heads,
which will allow the wall
space above it to be
used for storage.
Study Model: Observations #469
21
Revised Orthographics
Using what I discovered making my study model, I revised
my Illustrator rendering and began to make a CAD model
in Solidworks.
I changed the wall mounting system to
include separate clip and rail parts to allow
the user to customize the wall storage based
on the number of the tools they have. This
also allows the user to only buy the tools he
needs and to clip new tools on the wall with
the old ones.
While there would be multiple tools that fit this system,
I decided to use the most common tool based on my
research, the broom, as the example of how the system
works, and how the tools would look.
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Rendered ViewRendered View
24
#469
Injection
Molded
ABS
Injection Molded ABSInjection Molded ABS
Rubberized TPE Endcap
Polypropelene Bristles
Parts in Exploded View
n Molded ABSInjection
Extruded Styrene Rail
Injection Molded Styrene
Extruded Aluminum
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#469
6in
Orthographics/Dimensions
30in
36in2in
30in60in2in
3in
1.8in
18in
1.3in
36in2in
Cross-Sections
.8in
26
Product Mechanisms
Press side button to move slider . . .
. . . which pulls the wire . . .
. . . which folds the wings
on the end of the handle.
Tool heads come with their
own clip, which mount at
any point on the rail.
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#469
Choose Tool
Store Tool
28
User Storyboard
Use Selected Tool
29
HYDRAToolSystem
POLYTOOL POLY SWEEP
HYDRAMulti-HeadedTool System
Cleaning system Cleaning system
Logo Development
For my logo I wanted the name of the product to imply the multi-functionality of the
product. I initially went with Polytool as a name, but I later changed it to Hydra, the
creature from Greek mythology that had two heads grow back for each one you cut
off, which perfectly represents the “multi-headed” tool system.
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Presentation Poster #469
31
Appearance Model #469
32
Thank you for taking the
time to review my book.