Companion
For you and your best friend.
Companion is a multi-use lounge chair for dog owners. It features three distinct positions for different activities:
Lounge chair
end table / wash station / dog shelter
position for keeping the seat clean and agility training.
Companion was born from a particular set of design constraints:
Promote healthy outdoor life experiences
Adhere to guidelines for rotational molding HDPE.
Fit on a pallet, dimensions 48”x40”x52”.
Product on the theme of “Pets” and “education”
Several ideas were generated, and the strongest idea was a “chair for user that flips to keep clean.”
First Rough CAD model, with only two positions.
Creating a foam core model helped me find a third position as an end table.
Revised the hub, removing an extra part and simplifying the design.
Sketching on screen shots of the CAD window was very helpful to visualize revisions. Adding a slope so the dog stays dry.
Start of the locking mechanism.
Feet added to raise the overall profile.
Companion fits four chairs to a pallet, with the possibility of fitting more.
The set of four may require packing material to prevent deformation and blemishes during shipping.
During this project, I was introduced to a useful tool. This task-scape envisions the environment and surroundings in which a product is likely to be used.
Doing this can provide key insights into parts of the design that fit well into the space, and parts that don’t. For example, from this, I added feet to my design. This avoids trapping moisture on the deck and minimizes damage to the lawn.
The design process also included a study of the ergonomics of different seating options, including lounge chairs.
At the suggestion of a mentor, I set up a full size prototype of the contour of the seat. My peers and I all tested the seat and found it comfortable, despite our varying body types.
It was from this shape I created my CAD models.
I continued to refine the details of the design, adding feet, a drain for the seat, and a locking mechanism to keep the seat from moving while in use.