UPDATE #2:

Still on target to ship on 12/17.  They came out great, by the way.

POST CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

Wow!  This campaign really exceeded my expectations--thanks to EVERYONE who supported this project in any way. I am very grateful.
As of 12/12/12, the blue pieces have been received and are at the engraver.  The reds go there tomorrow morning and the gun-metal in the afternoon.  I will spend the weekend working on magnets and putting together orders.  On Monday I will ship the US orders via 2-day Priority Mail. If you are in Colorado, you should be receiving your perks on Tuesday.  INTERNATIONAL will take 1-3 weeks (unless you have made prior arrangements to receive your order sooner.)
Please check out the GrOpener page on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates.
Thanks again!

SHIPPING

US Domestic Shipping is included. 

International Shipping is included IF you don't need it by the Holidays.  1-3 weeks from the ship date to the delivery date through your national postal service.

All You Need is a Firm Grip

This device does not require a lot of strength, but a firm grip is necessary.  It is not a helpful tool for grandma's arthritis or for a kindergartner.  Think a firm, but not crushing, handshake.

How The GrOpener Happened

The idea for this project was born in Ghana where I was teaching art with the Peace Corps.  Every bar had these cool, hand-made openers consisting of a piece of wood with a couple of screws stuck in it.  The screws hooked under the cap and the cap was pried off as you press down on the wood...it was brilliant!  Over time, I thought about different configurations on this principle.  One handed is a natural way to configure an opener that is pressed down towards the bottle.  I developed it until the form and balance worked with the motion of the hand.

I am an editorial photographer with a background in the visual arts.  I have applied my art discipline to product design before. In 2007 I designed and launched another product, the Zoot Snoot. This is a device made from neoprene that has been popular in a niche dealing with flash photography (it is available at adorama.com, lightwaredirect.com, and zootsnoot.com).

I live where I grew up in Denver, Colorado with Jenn and our son Gerik--who generously offered his art as a backdrop in the photo and video.

The Goal & What You Get

I have already paid for the tooling and the first 200 linear feet of extrusion.  Where I need your help is in covering the cost of cutting and finishing the GrOpeners.  If I don't reach my goal of $4000, I will use what I raise to cut and finish what I can of the extrusions, so I can fulfill the orders that are made.

Contribute now, using the buttons to the right and I will send you the perks of your contribution level. 

Why is the GrOpener Important?

It is unique that this tool uses motion and force from the act of grabbing the bottle to achieve the additional result of removing the cap.  But, it is special in that it has been designed in a way that accommodates amputees, stroke victims and others who may only have full use of one hand.

Other Ways You Can Help