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Design – Armstrong Reacher Thermal Grabber

Rebecca Armstrong

Description of Project

The Armstrong Reacher Thermal Grabber.

The Innovation

A Reacher with an internally heated handle and trigger.

How it works

Using a small rechargeable battery (similar to heated socks), the handle maintains a constant 37°C (98.6°F).
Copper-Infused Trigger Copper is a great heat conductor; it will move the heat from the internal battery directly into your fingertips.

Oversized "D-Loop" Handle

(Raynaud's can make fingers stiff) A D-loop handle allows you to use your whole hand (or even your palm) to pull the trigger, rather than relying on individual finger strength.

Image of the grabber being used to extract items from a washing machine. The grabber is held by magnets on the outside of the machine with a drip tray underneath.
3D drawing of the grabber handle showing a rechargeable power bank set inside and copper wires to conduct heat. The annotation also whos a ventilated insulation matrix.

Attachments

The idea of the Reacher Thermal Grabber being multi-purpose was a must in my design, the ‘grabber’ attachment unscrews from the handle and a ‘paddle’ attachment can be screwed on for the use of ‘sweeping’ out any left-over socks in the washer, this minimises the need for the user to bend.

A hand holding a cardboard vesion of the grabber design.
A CAD drawing of the final design showing a trigger grip in the handle as well as a trigger just below it. Labels read "Tripod silicone grip talons, ergonomic paddle sweep attachment, integrated LED illuminator, 2 stage telescoping aluminium shaft.

I am 34 years old with a background in Special Educational Needs. My main goal throughout this project was to find a way to support my disabled Mum becoming more independent in her daily life. My Mum has arthritis throughout her spine and Raynaud’s disease which is a circulatory disease which flare when she is subjected to the cold.

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