The first page of the UPTO listing for the patent awarded to my collaborator Jay Beckwith and I for this project. It is a first for both of us, in spite of many years of design experience.
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Pipe Topper Concept 1 : One of many concepts for holding vertical pipes together in the Gymboree system. Even though they are not refined sketches or renderings, I put a lot of these in this portfolio, because they demonstrate my design flexibility and give a view to the depth of my problem-solving skills.
Pipe Topper Concept 2
Pipe Topper Concept 3
Pipe Topper Concept 4
Pipe Topper Concept 5
Pipe Topper Concept 6. The funny thing about this potion of the project is that the client chose not to change anything from their existing design. That's just part of the game with design - even great ideas may not surface as products in the end.
Rail Attachment Concept 1 (Again, I included a series of these to express design flexibility and creativity) It is my beleif that the designer should explore as many solutions to a design challenge as possible in order to arrive at the best.
Rail Attachment Concept 2
Rail Attachment Concept 3
Rail Attachment Concept 4
Rail Attachment Concept 5
Rail Attachment Concept 6
Rail Attachment Concept 7
Rail Attachment Concept 8
Rail Attachment Concept 9
Rail Attachment Concept for Vertical Pipe Sockets - horizontal rails attach here.
Rendered image of "active" end of removable rung. Inventor Studio.
A see-through model of the rung latching system. Created in Autodesk Inventor.
Receptacle snap-fits into vertical pipes, covers rough edges of drilled holes, recieves latch bar when extended. Inventor model.
"Sleevie Wonder" integrates guide, fit at veritical pipe, spring finger, and holes for securing all parts into rung. Inventor model.
Push-Button, Inventor model
laser-cut steel latch bar. Provides support when rungs are installed, detents for securing in recessed and extended modes, hole to secure spring, and slot to allow linear motion. Inventor model.
Concept for Platform Attachment
Appearance concept for a flexible detent to secure platforms into frames, yet allow easy positioning and removal. Inventor model.
Additonal appearance concept for a flexible detent to secure platforms into frames, yet allow easy positioning and removal. Inventor model.
One more appearance concept for a flexible detent to secure platforms into frames, yet allow easy positioning and removal. Inventor model.
Final appearance concept for a flexible detent to secure platforms into frames, yet allow easy positioning and removal. Inventor model.
3D Printed model of flexible detent to secure platforms into frames. Printed in flexible material for test and evaluation.
Panel and Platform Hook Concept . Modeled in Autodesk Inventor
Panel and Platform Hook Final Design with wave-shaped web spaning hook-shaped perimeter wall. Stronger and easier to clean in the field. Injection Molded - Modeled in Autodesk Inventor
Detail view of panel, Panel Hook, and Removable Rung. Inventor model.
View of panel, Panel Hook, and Removable Rung. Inventor model.
View of Removable Rung and section of vertical pipe. Inventor model.
Early Removable Rung concept prototype, featuring 3D printed FDM compoents in a styrene polymer.
Early Removable Rung concept prototype, featuring 3D printed FDM compoents.
Early Removable Rung concept prototype, featuring 3D printed FDM compoents.
Early Removable Rung concept prototype, featuring 3D printed FDM compoents.
Concept for a Rotationally-Molded Box for part of the Gymboree system. I designed these so that all of the sides could be molded parallel. In this case, I consided the structure of the mold as a means of achieving this. In the end, the client chose to use a furniture-grade plywood design for these components.
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Gymboree Play and Music
Appearance design and technical design of system components for an indoor modular play structure system that requires no tools to assemble and reconfigure. A key point is that these strucrures may beeasily reconfigured by two small adult persons without the need for tools. A US Patent has been awarded for this deign.
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