Introduction
Do you know of any people that use grabbers for medical reasons or even just to help reach high places of their home? Then this tool was made for you. This project is designed to make the life of your friends and family that much easier just by using a simple tool. To aid people with their daily life this extendable grabber will do just the job at keeping people off of dangerous high places like unstable chairs and stools while trying to reach things in high up places. This tool also provides a high level of convenience for everyone who uses the product. This project was created with the safety and health in mind of the users of this product. While also focusing on the convience that this tool will provide as well as its durability to make sure that this tools convenience will last you for years to come. This product will help the user grab things up high; like a cup or picture frame ontop of a high shelf, while also being able to reach low places; like behind a couch or bed frame. The grabber was made to be extendable so that a user of any height will be able to use this grabber and change it to their needs. It will be equipped with a flashlight, magnet, and a trigger stopper. The trigger stopper will allow you to let go of the trigger and grab the object from the grabber without the object dropping. This project will approximately take 20 hours to complete including creating prototypes and of course the final product.
Objectives
The goal of this project is to keep people away from standing on objects potentially putting themselves in danger and instead move them to stay on the even and stable ground and just use our grabber to reach for things in high up places. As well as keep people who have a history or back pain or problems away from bending over to pick objects up and instead use our state of the art grabber tool. This project will function as an aid for people who struggle with reaching things on things like high shelves, those who struggle with bending over to pick up objects, and for clumsy people who drop things in tight and unreachable places. It will use a trigger pulley system. Once the trigger is pulled a string inside of the grabber will be pulled back, closing the jaw and gripping onto the object it had grabbed. The features of this grabber include a flashlight to light up dark spaces like behind the couch or if it's just nighttime and you had accidentally dropped your glasses off of the night stand. There will be a trigger stopper which is a piece of string or rubber band tied inside of a hole in the hand. Once the trigger is held all that needs to be done is moving the string so that the trigger will be held down. The tool's jaws will have a small flat edge similar to that of a scraper to allow it to pick up pieces of paper without crumpling or folding them. The tools final feature will be its extenability. It will be able to extend an extra foot longer to allow it to reach higher places or if someone was tall it would also allow them to reach things on the floor without bending over.
Design Strategy
This project was approached with the idea that it needed to be simple and effective. For the development of the model or the exterior of the tool needs to be able to grab and be able to hold a glass and or cup. So it was decided that a round shape like a horseshoe was the best for the requirements of this project. The project also needed to be light waiting so it would be easy to hold without the need to tire out the users arm. The model will be tested by picking up varius object like a dog toy, tennis balls, glass cups, soda cans, notebooks, pieces of paper, a remote control, pieces of clothing, and finally a pencil. With this level of testing model validation and performance will be ensured.
Plan of Action
To complete the design strategy of this project several steps need to be completed. First, the aluminum the grabber will be made out of needs to be cut and sized appropriately along with holes cut into the side to allow the extending mechanism to work. Next, 3-D print other parts of the grabber like the jaw, trigger, and handle. Now testing of different types of string and different sizes of rubber bands will occur to find the object best suited to be the trigger stopper. Finally, testing will commence and changes will be made to the design and concept if needed.
Verification
Testing procedures will include several different components. Firstly, the grabber will be tested on its ability to grip the objects stated before in the objectives of this project. How well the grabber can hold onto these objects and if the grip is loose on the object is essential knowledge for this project. Additionally, the environment will be used to see how the grabber will work in diffents conditions and areas. For example if it is raining will the grabber still be able to hold onto a rubber ball or if your inside will the grabber be able to hold onto a bar of soap. Next, the grabber will be tested on its weight and comfortability for the user. Is to grabber to hold onto for long periods of time and is uncomfortable for the user. Finally, how difficult will it be to damage or completely break the grabber meaning it won't be able to grab and hold onto objects.Tolerance Analysis: What will most affect the performance of this project is the conditions that it is faced with. With the weather constantly changing it will definitely impact the performance of this project as the rain can lower the friction on objects and the wind can move object and could possibly wiggle objects loose of the grabber grip.
Cost and Schedule
Cost Analysis: The cost of this project is estimated to be less than $30. This is due to the cost of Nylon cord at $7.99, filaments for the 3-D printer are provided by the school, aluminum for the exterior is free as it is provided for by the school, and for the prototype pvc pipe may be used which is estimated to cost arond $20. The labor cost will be $1000.
Schedule:
Date:
What is completed
10/5/24 - 10/26/24
Construction
10/27/24 - 11/6/24
Testing
11/8/24 - 11/26/24
Presentation
Bibliography
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“32" Foldable Reacher/ Grabber Tool for Seniors.” AskSAMIE, www.asksamie.com/products/32-foldable-reacher-1. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
“Nova Long Reacher, Lightweight Grabber with Wide Gripper, Hook & Magnetic Tip, Rotating Easy Grip Handle.” A, a-zhme.com/products/nova-long-reacher-lightweight-grabber-with-wide-gripper-hook-magnetic-tip-rotating-easy-grip-handle. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
“Rirether Grabber Tool for Elderly, 32" Reacher Grabber with Magnetic T.” Rirether, rirether.com/products/rirether-grabber-tool-for-elderly-32-reacher-grabber-with-magnetic-tip-and-hook-rotating-gripper-claw-grabber-durable-aluminum-alloy-foldable-lightweight-reacher-2-pack-red-and-green. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.