Team BRUTE

1. Team BRUTE Brandon Sowinski, Nick Nekola, Kenny Malekian

2. Team Roles • Problem Statement and Statement of Purpose • Justification • Problem Statement Matrix • Patent Summaries • Research Summaries • Market Information • Market Research • Prototype Information • Test Information • Refinements • What We Would Do Differently Agenda

3. Brandon Sowinski – Team Leader • Nick Nekola – Time Keeper • Kenny Malekian – Coordinator Team Roles

4. Americans’ coat zippers easily become stuck on other clothes or materials. Ever since the modern zipper was invented in 1913, the zipper getting stuck has irritated countless people because the zipper becomes difficult to maneuver. Based on a survey recently conducted, 61% of participants believed stuck zippers to be a problem with a close 59% of participants believing the current zipper design is flawed. • Prevent the zipper from catching and becoming stuck on various articles of clothing located near the zipper region. Problem Statement & Statement of Purpose

5. 80% of people have gotten their zipper stuck and believe it’s a problem • Many people ask for help fixing this without damaging the zipper • Only ways to fix it can be difficult and damaging Justification

6. Problem Statement Matrix

7. Patent 0102729 – Rescue coat with covered liner zippers– The type of material can cause complications • Patent 0209169 – Zipper– Having a specific design for each element can be a good idea Patent Summaries

8. whiteblaze.net/forums/showthread.php?11116-amp-!!-zipper-always-gets-stuck.whiteblaze.net/forums/showthread.php?11116-amp-!!-zipper-always-gets-stuck. • “I just bought a fairly expensive down sleeping bag and it got stuck right off the bat.” “I don't want to damage it.” Research Summaries

9. Existing zipper companies – dominated industry for many years • Button companies – widely used as clothes fasteners, doesn’t get stuck • Snap companies – widely used as clothes fasteners, doesn’t get stuck • Velcro – easy to use, doesn’t get stuck. Rarely used alone on clothes, lose effectiveness Major Competitors

10. Product created and is shipped to clothes manufacturers Production Facility Mount product on clothes Clothes Manufacturer Clothes Manufacturer Clothes Manufacturer User and Buyer Sell created product to consumers Retailer Retailer Retailer Buyer Users and Buyers Consumer purchases and uses clothes General Public End-user

11. Consumer characteristics: • Age: ~14+ • Income: All incomes • Education level: All education levels • Geographic location: Everywhere in the U.S • 2010 census = ~245,267,292 people over the age of 14 in the U.S. Market

12. Large potential market • Product is not overly complicated • Product does not have many small parts Reasons to Produce

13. Surveys – provide quick answers that give us almost immediate information to analyze about target consumer • Casual Interviews – provide in-depth analysis of consumer opinions Market Research Plan

14. How frustrated people get when their zipper gets stuck. Market Research Results

15. Market Research Results Cont.Product the most frequently got its zipper stuck

16. Market Research Results Cont. Do you believe stuck zippers are a problem

17. Market Research Results Cont. Whether or not people have ever damaged the product due to the zipper

18. After surveying the general public, we came to the conclusion that the standard zipper is flawed and needs improvement or a replacement. Market Research Summary

19. Original Drawings

20. Original Prototypes

21. Prototype Decision Matrix

22. New Zipper Concept CAD Drawings

23. Magnet Fastener Cad drawings cont.

24. Materials: • Two pieces of fabric measuring 10” by 22” (58% polyester, 42% polyester) • 64” of thread • 8, 22” strips of flexible magnets • Procedure • Fold each piece of fabric vertically in half. • Create a seam about ½” from the edge on the open side and bottom of the fabric. • Place 4 of the magnetic strips in each pocket. These strips should be facing the same way in each pocket. • Sew the top shut. Check the prototype for any holes or openings. If any are found, sew them shut. If not, the prototype is complete. Build Process #1

25. Prototype 1

26. The placement of the magnets allows them to move around freely. Specific channels will have to be made to allow the magnets to be separate and still serve their intended purpose. • Four magnets are not necessary. The next prototype will only require two magnets. This will not only reduce the need for the channels, but should also keep the same relative strength of the magnets. This will also increase the amount of tape present, better allowing the prototype to be attached to the shirt. • A way to easily remove the magnets should be present in the next solution. A solution of Velcro will be present to allow the magnets present to be easily fixable should a problem arise. • Make a mark that identifies the front from the back to allow for more efficient testing. Refinements – Prototype 1

27. Materials: • A piece of fabric (58% polyester, 42% nylon) large enough for two pieces of fabric measuring 9” by 22”. • 64” of thread • 4, 22” strips of flexible magnets • Procedure • Cut the fabric into two equal strips measuring 9” by 22”. • Divide the fabric into three equal 3” sections. Fold one of the 3” over the middle 3” section. • Create a seam about ½” from the edge of the folded side on the open side and bottom of the fabric. • Place 2 of the magnetic strips in each pocket. These strips should be facing the same way in each pocket. • Sew in between each magnetic strip. This will create channels that will keep the magnetic strips in place. • Sew the top shut. Check the prototype for any holes or openings. If any are found, sew them shut. If not, the prototype is complete. Build Process #2

28. Prototype 2

29. Added Velcro to the top to allow the magnets to be more easily removed. Refinements – Prototype 2

30. Materials: • A piece of fabric (58% polyester, 42% nylon) large enough for two pieces of fabric measuring 9” by 22”. • 64” of thread • 4, 22” strips of flexible magnets • 4, 2” strips of Velcro • Procedure: • Cut the fabric into two equal strips measuring 9” by 22”. • Divide the fabric into three equal 3” sections. Fold one of the 3” over the middle 3” section. • Before sewing the pocket, place the Velcro in the middle of the pocket area so that ¼” is located on either side of the Velcro strip. • Create a seam about ½” from the edge of the folded side on the open side and bottom of the fabric. • Place 2 of the magnetic strips in each pocket. These strips should be facing the same way in each pocket. • Sew in between each magnetic strip. This will create channels that will keep the magnetic strips in place. • Sew the top shut. Check the prototype for any holes or openings. If any are found, sew them shut. If not, the prototype is complete. Build Process #3

31. Final Prototype

32. Cold Test • Vertical Strength Test • Horizontal Strength Test • Sound Test Tests

33. Cold Test • Materials: • Freezer • Magnetic prototype • Procedure: • Place magnetic strip on a freezer shelf. • Let the magnetic strip sit inside the freezer for 24 hours. • Take magnetic strip out of the freezer. • Test the magnetism of the magnet while it is still cold by using a piece of metal to see if the magnet attracts the metal as well as a fresh magnet. • Allow magnetic strip to return to room temperature. • Once the magnetic strip returns to room temperature, test the magnetism of the magnetic strip by using a piece of metal to see if the metal is still attracted to the strip. Test Procedures

34. Cold Test Results – Prototype 1 – • Total Time: 24 hrs 21 min • Magnetic Properties Retained: Yes • Additional Notes: • The magnets became cold and stiff, yet not brittle. They retained their magnetic properties, even after warming to room temperature, which it did quickly. Test Results

35. Horizontal Strength Test • Materials: • Magnetic Prototype • Force Meter (in newtons) • Tape Test Procedures

36. Horizontal Strength Test • Procedure: • After obtaining all the necessary materials, poke a hole in the fabric of one side of the prototype, which we will call magnet 1. • Attach the other side of the prototype, which we will call magnet 2, to a fixed surface so the long side is facing you. • When magnet 2 is sufficiently stationary, attach magnet 1 to it in a fashion that magnet 1 completely overlays magnet 2. • Attach the force meter to magnet 1 by inserting the hook into the hole. • Proceed to pull magnet 1 towards you. Pull the force meter in a way that the speed at which the two magnets are separated remains uniform. • Watch the force meter because when the magnets become separated, the force will quickly drop. At the point of separation, record the measured force. • Repeat this process five times and take the average result of all the tests. This will ensure quality control should help in eliminating any anomalies that may occur during one test. Test Procedures

37. Test Results

38. Vertical Strength Test • Materials: • Magnets • Force Meter (in newtons) • Tape • Procedure: • After obtaining all the necessary materials, attach a string to one of the magnets, which we will call magnet 1, in a way that the string is attached short-ways across the magnet. • Ensure this string does not become detached by taping it down. • Attach the other magnet, which we will call magnet 2, to a fixed surface with the long side is facing you. • When magnet 2 is sufficiently stationary, attach magnet 1 to it in a fashion that magnet 1 completely overlays magnet 2. • Attach the force meter to magnet 1. • Proceed to pull magnet 1 towards you. The speed at which the magnets separate should remain uniform. • Watch the force meter carefully as the force will quickly drop when the magnets become separated. At the point of separation, record the force. • Repeat this process five times and take the average result of all the tests. This will ensure quality control should help in eliminating any anomalies that may occur during one test. Test Procedures

39. Test Results

40. Sound Test • Materials: • Vernier Microphone • GO! Link • Finished Prototype • Garment with a zipper • Computer • Logger Pro 3 • Procedure: • Attach the microphone to the GO! Link cable. Attach the cable to a computer. • Start Logger Pro 3 • Place the zipper next to the microphone. • Start collecting data by opening and closing the zipper for 5 seconds. • Repeat this twice. • Place the prototype next to the microphone. • Collect data for the prototype by opening and closing it for 5 seconds. • Repeat this twice. • Convert the data to decibels. • Determine the difference in intensities between the two methods of closure. Test Procedures

41. Test Results

42. More research • More tests • More refinements and prototypes • Public opinion test of prototype What We Would Do Differently

43. Team Roles • Problem Statement and Statement of Purpose • Justification • Problem Statement Matrix • Patent Summaries • Research Summaries • Market Information • Market Research • Prototype Information • Test Information • Refinements • What We Would Do Differently Recap

44. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME