QD Anchor Journal

Prepared in relation to DMU: Product Design 2017, Creative Festival 2017, New Designers 2017 Date of publication June 2017, DMU, UK Copyright Oliver Cooper © 2017

Contents

Introduction

1

Name: Oliver Cooper Degree: BA Product Design Location: East Sussex Email: oliverjcooper95@gmail.com URL: oliverjcooper95.wixsite.com/cooperproductdesign

Contents 2

3 5

6

7 8 9 10 11

12

The issue

Rescue operations External liaison

The design process

Concept generation Testing

Digital visualisation

Testing development Prototyping

Design for manufacture 13

CAD

14

The model 15

Prototype production

16

Attaining the target

17 18 20 22

Evaluation Scenarios

Detailed look

Future potential

Credit: Greg Rakozy

The issue.

Rescue operations

The issue

3

A woman trapped next to her car as a gush of water surges past. Local resident holds her arm after having clambered onto the car. Credit: John Kolesidis

RESCUE

Credit: John Kolesidis

OPERATIONS W

hen in a rescue situation response time is vital.

Making the rescue task as efficient and as safe as possible for both the rescue crew and the victim is the top priority. The quick deployment anchor point system will increase ease of rescue and safety while decreasing rescue time, while maintaining a cost effective design.

Within rescue operations there are many things to consider, and keeping all involved away from danger is the top priority. Particularly in water rescues, steadying yourself on an unstable vehicle while water rushes by can be tricky and slippery, especially when you’re trying to rescue someone else who may be injured.

Credit: Cameron Kirby

Recognising the needs.

External liaison

The issue

5

Through questionnaires and interviews with people in the rescue industry, valuable insights to rescue procedures and environments. Talking to Adrian Mayhew, National Operations and Safety Manager at Surf Life Saving GB provided extensive information on vehicle rescues and the operations that are required to save flood victims. Crew Manager at Southern Fire and Rescue Service in Leicester, Simon Cooper, was able to give insights into how they operate, how they set up at a rescue location, and the struggles they may face, along with first hand equipment run-throughs.

The quick deployment anchor point system aims to aid the rescue efforts by providing additional anchor points and points of purchase when in tricky situations by the use of suction.

The dual suction cup design allows for the unit to be used on a range of surfaces, depending on the load applied.

A single anchor point could be used as a point of contact for the person, or as a mount for a light or equipment. Removing equipment from the rescue crew onto a fixed point or tether frees up the rescue members to aid the rescue. It can be used as a system with two or more anchor points being linked with webbing to act as a larger handle around corners or as a tether to follow or pass equipment along.

Operation with a single hand would allow the device to be deployed with ease. This means two units can be deployed at once saving precious moments during rescue operations.

Credit: Rig System UK

The design process.

Concept generation

The design process

7

Made in connection with major project.

With all the necessary information needed gathered from multiple sources and the project drivers laid out, the development process can get underway. Secondary research provides first-hand insights to look into solutions for improved grip and stability for both the crews and victims in rescue situations.

Exploring the fundamental concepts on paper allows for a fast, productive workflow, with a wide range of concept generation.

Soft models bring the concepts into the hands of people for feedback and testing. Colour and texture swatches brings in fine detail and colour to the design at an early stage to ensure the colour and surface finish are incorporated into the design and not left as an afterthought.

8

The design process

Testing

Glass lifters enabled a lot of research to be conducted, looking at surfaces, hold, and time scales of suction.

With the use of test rigs, varied situations were acted out, looking at how the user will interact with the system, and to stretch the capabilities of the system.

Iterations of soft rigs explored the handle mechanism, going through multiple linkages to find the best solution. The same was done for the cams, analysing various dimensions to provide a strong over centre lock action along with easy deployment geometry.

Pivotal pads were considered for curved surfaces, however, coupled with the cams this would create unbalanced geometry in the lever mechanics.

Actually testing the product with the test rig provided useful data about the capabilities of the system as a whole. Applying excessive weight to the rig shows the strength of suction, making it clear that it’s possible to hold equipment.

Made in connection with major project.

Digital visuals

Digital visuals.

Quick early on images, ideal for selling the proposal to others by helping them understand the proposal before virtual and physical models are produced.

The design process

9

10 The design process

Testing development

Rescue equipment is distinctive. The language of products informs users of its sector, i.e. medical, rescue, military, and the QD Anchor System must also do the same. Through the use of colours and form it must tell uninformed users that it is for rescue and rigging.

A product’s success is partially based on how the user interacts with it. A poor user experience can be a point of failure for many products. To help the design, foam models are used to gather fast, reliable feedback.

With the use of the model, users were able to feel and comment on the scale, ergonomics and overall design. Getting the design out of the computer and into the real world enables the shape to be felt and seen so much better than a design behind a screen.

Various designs can be produced quickly which allows for more user feedback and a more refined product.

Block model

Prototyping

The design process

11

Made in connection with major project.

Before costly prototyping begins, cheaper 3D prints can be used to test critical parts. Seeing how two parts interact can highlight potential issues. Fixing these early on saves a lot of time and money.

Looking at structure and wall thickness can give some indication of real world strength. Flex in the product will allow forces to be applied with lower risk of fractures or splits in the material, and these prints can be used to expose areas at risk of breaking.

The movement of the handle can be seen in context within the casing. Checking how the cams move in relationship with the surrounding parts allows the cam to be refined as this is a crucial component of the design.

Internal detailing

Design for manufacture.

CAD

The design process 13

The geometry of the form is crucial to the performance. A virtual assembly of the unit ensures there is no clashing of parts prior to modelling. This allows the parts to be moved around as they would in the physical world.

Stress tests simulate where weak points are, applying loads to different areas can allow any potential weak points to be fixed.

As well as stress tests, flow simulations show how mouldable a part is. This tool gets the parts to a point where it can be injection moulded with no short shots and sink marks kept to a minimum.

Getting the part quoted for tooling highlights areas that need side action, and helps reduce start-up costs.

The model.

Prototype production

The model 15

The first production prototype model is produced with selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing, which provides tight tolerances, and high detail down to 0.15mm. Each part was carefully hand finished, making sure each detail was crisp and accurate.

The foundation of the system is the metal core. Steel plates and anchor loops provide strength where it’s needed. The plates are water cut and hand finished, while the steel loops are heated and bent into shape.

All the parts begin to come together, and the design takes shape. This is where any issues not resolved earlier in the design process become significant. Any small deviation in the handmade metalwork has a knock on effect to the printed components. Any small adjustments are made to ensure all parts fit together snuggly.

Made in connection with major project.

Attaining the target.

Evaluation

Attaining the target 17

With a safe working capacity of 75kg per anchor, the system can provide 150kg of hold for equipment. Various modes provide wide functional usage, such as: • Anchor • Step • Handle • Belay tether • Zipline system The intuitive single handed use ensures the QD Anchor System can be used by anyone in times of urgency. The extended handle provides additional grip round corners and extra space for it to be stepped on.

The tough injection moulded casings, produced from Polypropylene Impact Co-polymer, is able to withstand impacts and chemicals that might be found in harsher environments.

Working with the QD Anchor is simple. Protective caps on the suction cups are removed simultaneously prior to deployment by the pull of a cord. Two units can be clipped to a work belt, or up to eight units carried over the shoulder via the webbing.

Single-handed deployment is quick and simple, from which many variations of webbing can be set up, while also using the anchor as a handle and step. The majority of the anchor is orange to help maximise its visibility in low light environments or when submerged, while the handles are darker, where the contast helps distinguish them from the rest of the anchor.

The QD Anchor System will help in situations of urgency, aid rescues, and provide the ability to make a much more accessible and connected environment.

Handle and step Made in connection with major project.

18 Attaining the target

Scenarios

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20 Attaining the target

Detailed look Thenar hump A major aspect of usability is the handle hump.

Designed for the webbing between the thumb and index finger, this allows the deployment to be effortless. By pushing the handle in this location, even pressure is applied to the anchor, which enables a good seal around the suction cups.

Release clips Clips secure the handle in place to prevent unwanted release of the suction. Release is a two handed job as to remove accidental release.

Extended handle Removable for when the anchor is wanted solely for anchor and tether use, and replaced by a cap. The handle serves as additional grip when over a ledge or around a corner, such as reaching out of a car sunroof. Large grips on either side provide grip where it is needed.

Flared handle cap Large flared cap prevents users from slipping off the extended handle. Angled surfaces help lead the hand on to the handle. The other side features a durable loop for tethers to allow the anchor to be hung up in storage.

Front loops Dual loops at the front of the anchor provide tether points on the left and right side. With movement ranging from110 degrees in the vertical and 180 degrees in the horizontal per loop allows tethers to be unrestricted.

Protective caps The suction cup condition is vital to its performance. To ensure the cups are not venerable during storage, protective caps are secured over the cup surfaces.

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Handle grips Large rubber bumps on the sides provide much-needed grip to both hands and feet.

The slight concaved top profile allows the foot to rest securely, and the sectional profile provides an ideal shape for handgrip.

Padding Soft pads provide reassuring, tactile feedback when closing the handle.

Rear loop Rear facing anchor loop allows up to three straps to be connected at any one time, with movement ranging from180 degrees in both the horizontal and vertical.

Protective caps Bumps on the casing secure the caps, while angled clips on the caps ensure application is easy.

A tether joins the two caps together so removal is quick and simple as to speed up deployment time.

Finger grooves Grooves below the handle are there to pull the handle up to release the anchor from the surface it is applied to.

22 Attaining the target

Future potential

Anchoring around corners

Zipline system

Future development of the QD Anchor System could see it expand into other market sectors, such as: • DIY • Filming and photography • Sailing • Construction • Automotive Take film and lighting for instance. Providing adjustable lighting and vantage points would help create a versatile set that allows for fast set up and adjustment for even the heavier cameras and lights.

DIY and industrial sectors could benefit from having a versatile anchor system. Being able to step up and reach higher up would help DIY and construction work, even when applying the anchor to surfaces like painted walls. Traditional glass lifters are available for the job, but the lack of the single handle use, extended grip, tether points or dedicated spaces to step on; means they are not as efficient or practical.

Credit: Welsey Tingey

Potential development of the QD Anchor System can help improve and expand its functionality. Through the use of suction or time indicators the user would see how long is left before the air seal weakens. Additional pads would mean a larger and heavier product, but it would also provide a greater hold capacity. These larger systems would be for more bespoke uses; however, these would open the doors to pneumatic suction.

Credit: Shi Men Ting

24 About me

About me - Personal Raised on the South Coast of England, studied 3D design at Sussex Downs Vocational College and moved to De Montfort University to gain a degree in product design.

Would describe myself as an outdoor person, keen on biking, kayaking and kiting, and looking to make the most of the coastal scenery. Photography and cameras are a strong interest of mine, leading to a growing collection of classic cameras and equipment.​ ​ - Work Currently I’ve worked as a junior designer for BlueFrog Design, working as part of a fast paced team, in all stages of the design process for a broad range of products, while taking care of general admin and client communication. ​ Market leader on decorative hardware Crofts And Assinder assigned a brief to design a door handle/latch for a small space living. My design went into the final 3 and went forward on to rapid prototyping. The design was showcased at The Furniture Makers Company design award fair in London, along with 2 colleagues and their chosen design ​ I worked for De Montfort University writing and compiling a workshop user booklet for the university facilities, informing students on workshop location, equipment, technicians and essential information to help use their time more efficiently. ​ Previous to this I worked with De Montfort as part of IMechE’s Formula Student project to build a single seat race car. A small team including myself worked together to produce the front body cone. While collaborating with the engineering department, designs and small scale models were used to finalise the design.

- Contact Email: oliverjcooper95@gmail.com URL: oliverjcooper95.wixsite.com/cooperproductdesign

Previous works 25

Previous work Adaptive water sound therapy in the office

UVA sheild for frequent fliers

Custom chest plate for Dysesthesia sufferer

Handle competition finalist

Quick protection for when filming on location

Hop over to the weblink shown on the About me page of this booklet for more information on these projects along with other works.

26 Notes

Notes

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28 The final model

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All images Š 2016-2017 Oliver Cooper oliverjcooper95.wixsite.com/cooperproductdesign oliverjcooper95@gmail.com Modification or unauthorised distribution is prohibited.