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Product design - need opinions

thomas530thomas530 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello, 
I am currently working on a product design project, to create a product which makes accessing the garden easier (aimed at those with mobility problems), I was hoping I could get any ideas, or any opinions on my ideas, as I am trying to get a better picture of what people look for in a gardening product. 

My initial ideas was to make a kneeling mat, with handles on the sides to help with kneeling down, but also fabric sides that can be lifted up and locked in place to form a kind of basket, which tools can then be put in for easier storage, and so you only need to make one trip after working on a certain area. 
A wheelbarrow, or trolley might work as well, and could have mounts on the sides for tools to be stored, but that runs the risk of being too large to be pushed around easily. 

Any ideas or feedback I can get I would very much appreciate, 


Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I was given a mat with handles such as you suggested. I kept knocking my arms against the handles. I now have it turned upside down to put plant pots on . Your idea of the storage basket wouldn't work for me as most of my beds are long and I'd be forever lifting it up and moving it along. Something portable to chuck small  weeds in might be useful although a plastic bucket works fine for me.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    The very best of luck thomas530 but I venture you'll find manufacturers rather standoffish.  I've tried a few times and the general response was summed up as 'Leave us alone'..... but don't let that stop you.
  • thomas530thomas530 Posts: 3
    Yeah, I’ve found it’s quite difficult to get a response from companies, just got to keep trying different ones until they get back to you I guess.
    That is quite a good point regarding lifting it up every time you need to move B3 as the product cant make gardening an inconvenience, otherwise it’s useless.
    Thanks very much for the tips and ideas!
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I was thinking about the knocking arms against the sides problem might be solved if it swivelled on a lazy Susan type effort. This would increase the reach without it having to be moved so much. To avoid the kneeler  crashing into the plants in the bed when it moved, it would need to be shorter than the usual ones.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I know you can buy kneelers with handles that you can turn over to make a seat.
    I always kneel to garden and am starting to find getting up more of a problem each year but the same as B3 what puts me off is the thought of the handles getting in the way. Can you make them detachable or fold out of the way somehow? Perhaps lay them down and then slide under the kneeling area, but would I bother doing that I don't know!

  • thomas530thomas530 Posts: 3
    It might be a good idea to fold the handles down. It might work better to have each handle be able to move up and down, so when you are gardening you can simply lower both handles and they are fully out of the way. The rotating mat might be hard to figure out because it might need to lock into place once you rotate it into position, but I will definitely explore that idea further since it would save you getting up, just to turn the mat 90 degrees!
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