T-Pull: The
Accessible Door-Closing Handle
Eightfold Technologies is an Ottawa based, Canadian start-up, founded by engineers with
disabilities on a mission to enable a new level of independence for the
disabled and elderly communities.
People in wheelchairs,
walkers, and crutches can reach
for the handle to open most doors, but closing that door behind is a real challenge. As the
person attempts to close the door,
their wheelchair gets in the way, having to roll back and reach forth to close the door
a bit at a time. Something that ought to be simple, we just couldn't handle it
anymore!
Introducing the T-Pull, a
handle that removes the impossibility to reach for the conventional door knob
to close a door. The T-Pull is the perfect complement to the current door knob
for every room, in every establishment, for everybody.
Now THAT we
can handle!
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FEATURES:
- Easy installation
- Metal pin
- Durable high-density plastic
-
Lightweight
-
Swivels
-
Stores flush against door
- Extreme adhesive (tested to 24 kg or 52.9 lbs)
We are excited that this
innovation would eliminate a daily common challenge for people in wheelchairs,
scooters, walkers, and crutches to
close a door with ease.
Please give us a hand!
Short Summary
Hi, we are Eightfold
Technologies, initially an
automation company before the
CEO was hit by an SUV while
waiting at a bus stop, leaving him paralyzed and wheelchair-bound for life. After long years of rehabilitation, he resurrected
Eightfold Technologies as an innovations company focusing on products that
enable more independence for people with disabilities. We are a group of
like-minded individuals from the automation and robotics industries, and we would like to share our new idea.
Did you know that closing a door is a challenge for people in
wheelchairs?
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All door knobs are located at the edge of the door. When the door is opened,
the door knob gets further away
from the door frame. In a wheelchair, there is no easy way to close that door, short of easing the wheelchair back and reaching forth
to eventually close. That same
challenge exists for people in scooters, walkers, and crutches.
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After a few discussions,
concepts, and several prototypes later, success was achieved! Closing a door would no longer pose a daily
challenge.
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To test, we installed the T-Pull on an exterior metal door in -30°C Canadian weather in January, and the handle is still being used daily. Yet after installing another T-Pull on a different exterior metal door, children had broken 3! Obviously, better material and more testing is needed, which is where YOUR contribution comes in.
With
your help, we would be able to start the second phase of development, which
includes purchasing alternative
materials to achieve
optimal durability. As well, your
support would fund the creation of
a manufacturing mold, allowing us to bring down the cost of production making the T-Pull even more affordable. We
are currently producing one by one in a
costly process.
What We Need &
What You Get
We are asking for $5,000. This contribution would validate our idea and bring the T-Pull to the
next phase of development.
Perks
$10 Thank you with recognition on our website!
$30 One T-Pull – (30% off retail)
$60 Two T-Pulls – (30% off retail)
$30 One Eightfold Technologies
T-Shirt
$120 Four T-Pulls – (30% off retail)
What if we don’t get
fully funded?
Rest
assured, you will still get the perks that you’ve contributed.
We have been self-funded and will continue to be. Witnessing the impact
the T-Pull has made on one person’s life pushes us to continue with development. We believe the
T-Pull will help *many* people,
and not just wheelchair users.
The Impact
Accessibility devices lessen
the daily challenges people in wheelchairs confront. We build products that make a difference in lives of
people with disabilities or limited mobility. The T-Pull is a great product that so far has been,
and will continue to be, a useful device for people that experience daily
challenges with closing doors.
Risks &
Challenges
Our team has been involved in
many high level projects from start to finish. We have the experience and knowledge to overcome
most challenges related to the
T-Pull. Its design had taken approximately 6 months from inception to the final
design prototype. Much thought was put into the simple design of this product, and its functionality is exactly what was intended.
We are happy with the initial testing of the product, but work is needed on attaining durable materials.
The assistance of Occupational Therapists (OTs) have been helpful to ensure
proper functionality, attachment,
and best placements.
Other Ways You Can
Help
If you think the T-Pull is
something that may interest someone you know, please share along. Who knew closing a door can be
so difficult?
Thank you for reading our
story and sharing!