Handy Gardening Tool for disabled gardeners
Short summary:
HANDY GARDENING TOOL FOR DISABLED GARDENERS. in their arms and hands to use a variety of garden. tools. the handle of the typical small gardening tools. using the CES software, injection molding was selected as the primary manufacturing process ...
Long summary:
Handy Gardening Tool for disabled gardeners HANDY GARDENING TOOL FOR DISABLED GARDENERS Designer: Sheng Chou, Manza Masamuna, and Patrick Cushna Client: C. Twitchell, Lemelson Assistive Technology Development Center, Hampshire College, MA Supervising Professor: John E. Ritter Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 INTRODUCTION A handle was ergonomically designed that will permit people with debilitating conditions in their arms and hands to use a variety of garden tools. The design is focused on allowing these individuals to enjoy gardening without discomfort or unnecessary difficulty. The design consists of a pair of Velcro straps that allows the user to exert a large force without placing too much stress on their hands, and in particular fingers. A rigid frame disburses the forces through the arm instead of the wrist and fingers. The handle is universal in that multiple gardening tools can be fitted into its head. Materials were compared and evaluated using the Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES). From the analysis, polyvinylchloride (UPVC) was selected as the material to be used for the handle. Also using the CES software, injection molding was selected as the primary manufacturing process. For the shovel, high carbon steel was chosen as the material, and stamping will be the forming process. A series of secondary processes were also selected to complete the design. These secondary processes include drilling holes, cutting of the UPVC tubes, and assembling of parts. Finally, a cost analysis was performed, and it was determined that it would cost $6.40 for each handle. SUMMARY OF IMPACT Gardening is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages. Unfortunately, when people lose strength in their hands, it becomes difficult to hold the handle of the typical small gardening tools. Thus, a need exists for a set of gardening tools that have a handle that assists people with limited hand strength. This handle must be lightweight, inexpensive, ergonomically design and aesthetically pleasing. Our design handle allows for an interchangeable tool head so that users can change from shovel to rake and other existing gardening tools. Also, this handle can be used by people with a wide range of disabilities including weak hand strength, wrist, arthritis, etc. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Our teams goal is to design a handle for an Assistive gardening tool that will assist disabled gardeners. The gardening tool has to be lightweight, ergonomic, and inexpensive. The design will take into consideration, in particular, a person who is not able to exert a large force on a tool with their hand. We have come up with a concept that will not only target people with limited strength, but also handicapped persons who might only have one hand, no fingers, very weak hand strength, etc. A prototype of our Assistive gardening tool is shown in figure 1. Figure 1. Assistive Gardening Tool in working position The main ...
Source: mielsvr2.ecs.umass.edu
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