TABLE OF CONTENTS
Research Kari Sue Hamilton Interview With a PT Developmental Milestones Benefits of Climbing Opportunity Statement Problem Statement Ideation Brainstorm Down Selection Sketches Iteration First Prototype Sketches Safety Springs The Hub Final Prototype Prototype Renderings Packaging Business Plan Manufacturing Process
Research
Kari Sue Hamilton A key part of our research was out visit to Kari Sue Hamilton School. Kari Sue specializes in providing quality education for students with special needs or developmental challenges
Common Disorders at Kari Sue Hamilton include: Autism Angelman Syndrome Charge Syndrome Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome
2 out of 3 Students at KSH can walk Independently More than 1 in 4 Students at KHS have Autism Less than 1 in 5 Students at KHS are Functionally Verbal 1 in 5 kids in the Nation have a Learning Disorder
Symptom Overlap While the causes and symptoms vary there are some commonalities such as slowness to reach milestones, delayed walking, sensory problems, and underdeveloped fine and gross motor skills . With such varied ability levels and challenges it is important for any toy to be adaptable and able to provide a engaging and thereapeutic experience for a variety of skill levels
Interview with a PT While researching we had the chance to interview a physical specialist named Heidi who specialized in working with kids that had developmental challenges. Some key insights gained from her were:
Prefrontal Cortex
A lot of the time, kids with disabilities just need more practice. Kids are very visual.
Cerebellum
Hardest and most important task to learn is communication. It is difficult to develop social interaction skills if they do not have physical mobility. The ideal toy must require minimal supervision, is still challenging, and is easily accessible to the child. In general, organic materials are more pleasing.
Gross Motor Skills
Academic Achievement
Developmental Milestones Year 3 ° Imitates standing on one foot ° Imitates simple bilateral movements of limbs (e.g., arms up together) ° Climbs jungle gym and ladders ° Pedals on tricycle ° Walks up/down stairs a lternating feet ° Jumps in place with two feet together ° Able to walk on tip toes Catches using body
Year 4 ° Stands on one foot for up t o 5 seconds ° Kicks a ball forwards ° Throws a ball overarm ° Catches a ball that has been bounced ° Runs around obstacles ° Able to walk on a line ° Able to hop on one foot ° Jumps over an object and lands with both feet together
Year 5 ° Able to walk up stairs while holding an object ° Walks backward toe-heel ° Jumps forward 10 times without falling ° Skips forwards a fter demonstration ° Hangs from a bar for a t least 5 seconds ° Steps forward with leg on same side as throwing arm when °throwing a ball ° Catches a small ball using hands only
Year 6 ° Runs lightly on toes ° Able to walk on a balance beam ° Able to skip using a s kipping rope ° Can cover 2 meters hopping ° Demonstrates mature throwing and catching patterns ° Mature jumping
Benefits of climbing “The kids love climbing, but it needs to be safer and more appropriate� Increased Memory Increased Creativity Increased Attention Span Increased Self-Efficacy Core Strength and balance Muscular Strength Whole Body C oordination Reduced Stress Endurance Flexibility
Opportunity Statement There is an opportunity to provide a product that encourages the development of gross motor skills through climbing and scrambling that is adaptable, scaleable, and safe.
Problem Statement Create a product that will safely accommodate climbing and scrambling and is adjustable to skill level. Product must be usable indoors and not require special training or experience to safely use. Cost must be comparable to other items of a similar size. The product must be easy to clean and provide a full sensory experience for the participant.
Ideation
Brainstorm Initial brainstorm session began with 50 unique and distinct directions. From those 50, five were chosen based on peer feedback and scored on criteria such as functionality, therepeutic worth, aesthetics, cost, etc.
Down Selection Ease of Use and Setup Therapeutic Value Ease of Manufacturing Sustainable Materials Eye Catching for Kids Eye Catching for Adults Functionality Innovative Cost Safety Fun Factor Modularity
Tree Pads
Hanging Tree Net
A Clockwork Climb
Sleeping Bear
Modular climbing wall
Sketches
Iteration
First Prototype The first workinmg prototype showed that an interchageable interlocking system was possible but also illustrated several important issues that would have to be overcome including weight, alignmnet, safety, and ease of use.
Sketches I realized that I could simplify the locking mechanisms by creating receased brackets on the top with a spring loaded arm on the bottom. In this way a user would only have touch one piece to lock the climbing hold instead of three.
Safety I needed a mechanism that would be both easy to use and safe. The only way I felt the device could be safe for all users was to create a system that was autolocking. To do this I began looking at ways to spring load the arm.
Springs After some testing I decided that a torsion spring was the best option for the spring loaded latches. I now had to envision and test a method for installing the springs. I decided to recess the springs between the base board and spring allowing for an easy and simple installation that would also enable the parts to be CNC’ed.
The Hub Tested revealed a need for a hub in the arms since tightening the retaining bolt locked the arm in place. The hub, while simple in concept proved challengeing. It had to accomodate the arm, spring, bolt, and spring recess in the base board. Each object required a different width and tolerance, without a hub tuned into the needs of each part the brackets would not work. The final hub was the result of nearly 20 distinct iterations.
Final Prototype
Prototype The final prototype was unfinished CNC’ed Birch plywood. The backboard was 3/4” while the holds and brackets were cut from 1”. The backboard is shaped to be modular and interlock with boards of the same type. Two lines of screw recesses and holes are spaced 16” apart to accomodate the standard placement of studs in the wall of a house.
Renderings
Packaging A MODULAR CLIMBING WALL Modular means your Pagoda Peak can grow with your kids. As their ability increases, you can add to the wall or chose more challenging climbing holds. Grow it out, grow it up, or keep it small, the choice is yours!
3+
FROM 3 YEARS OLD AND UP Kids often grow out of toys, but not experiences. Whether your “kid� is 4 or 40, Pagoda Peak can provide a fun, creative, and healthy experience. Change the wall freely or keep it the same, you decide the amount of challenge!
FOR GROSS & FINE MOTOR SKILLS Climbing is a great way for kids to develop body awareness and coordination as well as finger dexterity and strength. Studies have shown that early development of Gross and Fine Motor Skills positively influences future academic success!
Business Plan Start up funds will be crowd sourced. The core of the business model will revolve around the design process; Observe, Ideate, Prototype, Repeat. Our input to the business will be manufacturing and marketing. Our outreach will be mostly through social media. Social media will allow us to find and maintain relationships with customers. For customers we will focus on familys with one or more children. Our value is the modular climbing board. This value is increased by our use of reneweable organic resources that can be recycled/upcycled. Our sales will be all through websites and then shipped directly to the customer.
Manufacturing Process Resin Arm
Casted Mold
Plastic Hub
Injection Molded
90 Degree Torsion Spring
Hand Assembled
Arm Latch
1/4 in 50 mm Bolt 1/4 in T-Nut 1 in Birch Bracket
CNC Cut
3/4 in Birch Back Board
CNC Cut Hand Assembled
Pagoda Peak Modular Climbing Wall 1 in Birch Hold
2 ply Cardboard
CNC Cut
Machine Cut
Hand Assembled
Packaged Good Ready to Sell