The key questions we are answering with our pretotypes are summarized below: 

• Will this item be taken in the vehicle?

  • Is it too heavy? 

  • Is it too big? 

  • Is it too loud? 

  • It is cumbersome to move?

• Will the spike based mechanism work for stability? 

  • The car cleats have an array of spikes

  • The winch mount is one spike with a brace at the ground 

• Is anyone interested in auto chains for personal vehicles? 

This pretotype determined from our users if the size, shape, and storage of this product would be acceptable as this is a large concern from the user group. We used a folding metal camping table in its bag to simulate the weight (20 lbs) and general footprint of the car cleat. Then we asked users to put it in their car and drive around briefly.

This pretotype gauged if a mechanism like this would be deemed too much of a hassle for the users. We modified some scrap steel to see if users would exit their vehicle to set it up and how they would store the product. We foresaw this being something that slides/makes a loud rattle. 

Car cleat pinoccio pretotype: 

• Weight concern 

• Easy removal concern (one user recommended hooks to grapple if its stuck)

• Suggested directional spikes to keep from pulling out

• Don't like the pedal, want a removable crank instead

• Rust slightly concerned 

Car cleats pretend to own

• We were not able to give to users in time, but team members conferred that the weight coming in and out of the trunk is exessive and would be very cumbersome

Winch stake mount (2 different pretotypes)

• Feels better with some weight in it (quality association)

• Want an extra cross member to protect thumb on misses

• Want a cross bracing member as it goes into the ground

• Not loud (prior concern)

• Easy to store under seats, would like a way to store it outside the vehicle

Auto chains 

• Minimal responses (1 comment from 1 forum)

• Commenter was very enthusiastic but did not specify what they appreciate about it, how much they would pay for it, or their thoughts on the lowered vehicle clearance that owuld likely come with it

• There is interest but not concrete enough to move forward with

Car cleat changes:

• • If we were to continue with this product: 

    • Find a way to reduce the weight while maintaining it's structural integrity. 

    • Implement directional spikes to go against the loading 

    • Change the pedal to a crank 

    • Pick a weather resistant material while maintaining other constraints

Winch stake changes: 

• Properly weight the design for customer association with quality/stability

• Add protection for the thumb on a miss hammering it in

• Add either a diagonal or a horizontal bracing member that acts as a "stopping point" when hammering it in, and also braces the stake in the direction of loading

• Maintain the ease of storage with these modifications, because users really liked the ability to slide it under seats or easily put it against the back of the car or in a tool chest. 

  • Potentially a folding bracing member? 

Auto chains changes: 

• If we were to continue with this product:

  • Find a way to prototype the mechanism and get it in front of users to further gauge interest 

  • Ask about if they would pay ~$100 for a product like this