Potential Issues

What is this:

After researching ideas similar to our product, we have come to the realization that there are some similar ideas that we are able to improve upon and take into account in order to create our first prototype. Many of these devices are too expensive, too flimsy, and not specialized enough for people with cerebral palsy to use.​

Potential Issues:

After researching products with a similar use, the group has discovered a variety of different products that are similar to what we were going to prototype. However, since our end-user is Alex, as student with cerebral palsy with strength/grip issues, he will be the focus at the center of our design.

Google Searches:

kettle tippers

Kettle tippers disabled

Kettle tippers for disabled

Jug tippers

Jug tippers disabled

Jug tippers for disabled

Blender tippers

Blender tippers disabled

Blender tippers for disabled

Products that already exist:

1. Jug Kettle Tipper Disability Aid for Poor Grip or Arthritis - Tea & Coffee etc..by A'BLE
   1. Holds most jug kettles
   2. Assists with pouring
   3. Secured with an elasticated strap
   4. Built-in stop to help to position
   5. Non-slip feet
2. Ergonomic Uccello Kettle Tipper Disability Tipping Aid Safely Pourer Arthritis by BetterLife
3. Cordless Kettle Tipper
4. Homecraft Universal Kettle Tipper
5. Derby tipper for kettles & teapots
6. Derby Kettle & Teapot Tipper with Base
   1. https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/kitchen-aids/kettle-tippers/Derby-Tipper-and-Base-video
7. Economy Kettle Tipper
8. Blender tipper

Problems our product needs to deal with:

• Weight of the blender and how heavy it is to tip it over
  • This really isn’t a problem with products that have handles integrated into them that alleviate the weight from the user
    • Adding a handle increases the complexity and cost
  • As long as the user is not tipping from the bottom and just pivoting from the top the weight is not a problem
  • 
    
• The cost of the tipper
  • Many of these tippers cost very little to produce
  • The lowest: $13.34 the highest: ~$47.36
  • The max production cost: (for cheapest): $6.60 (for most expensive) $23.68
  • If accounting for 20-50% profit margin these would need to be manufactured for even less
  • 3d printing filament rages from $35- 65 depending on the material type (abs and pla) as well as how much material we need
    • The cheapest seems to have a shipping weight of 1 pound thus would be equivalent to ~$30 in ABS thus would not make any sense to produce if we were aiming at making this product cheaper
• The weight of the tipper itself, how slip or movement resistant it is
  • Many come with slip-resistant feet and some with bases that inhibit movement of the cup and tipper
  • Slippage isn’t that much of an issue due to the axis of motion not being exerting force in any direction which may move the product
  • When the weight of the product increases so does the likeliness to make it slip, but in exchange makes the product cost more due to the increase in material
• The ergonomics possibly?
  • The only thing we can directly change would be the handle if included on the product itself
    • This really isn’t a big problem that I’ve seen with the reviews
  • Many products make use of the handle of the blender/tipper/jug to be controlled which is not something we can change or manipulate