Stretcher for Dogs
Design for Special Needs | National Institute of Design
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Contents
Design Brief
4
Initial Ideas
19
A Different Approach
5
Stair Wheels
20
Design for Animals
6
Iterations I
21
India & Stray Dogs
7
Activity Analysis
24
Govt & NGO Efforts
8
Folding Mechanism
25
Field Visits
9
Ergonomic Study
27
Choosing a Brief
10
Anthropometric Data
28
Existing Product Study
11
Iterations II
29
The Objective
14
Technical Drawings
30
The Scenario
15
Renders
31
Target Group
16
The Folding Mechanism
33
Stretcher use
17
Usage on Stairs
35
The Ownership System
18
Pamphlet
36
Design for Special Needs | National Institute of Design
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Brief
To design a stretcher for medium to large sized dogs between the weight of 30 to 50 kgs. A lightweight, fold-able stretcher for single user mobility, with a removable canvas surface and stair wheels.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
A different approach
Design for special needs is a 6 week course at National Institute of Design (NID) conducted for both Furniture and Interior Design as well as Product Design. Traditionally as part of this course, various products and furniture for disabled, injured or challenged persons are designed. These could be recreational, medically assisstive or for emergency situations. I came back from an exchange and joined the course 2 weeks late. I had therefore missed the initial introduction and field visits to various old age homes and NGOs that work towards the upliftment of the mentally and physically challenged. I had a slightly different outlook on the topic, than the others. I have always loved and adored the company of animals since a young age and thought that this was a perfect opportunity to give back to my furry friends. Helping animals was also trying to design for a special need. I thus decided to take a different approach to Design for Special Needs. (DfSN)
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Design for Animals
I researched a little about the relevance of designing for animals and came across various interesting and ingenious products that are available in the market. However I found that most of them were not necessarily needed, but were more of a luxury for the animals. I found out that 62% of households in the world have pets, and most of the time, these animals are loved so much they become part of the family. In India, along with agriculture, animal husbandry plays an important role. Very often these two occupations go hand in hand. Design for animals was also trend #7 in the Urban trend report 2012. I also felt that since animals cannot defend themselves, we as human must help them through design and innovation. Depending on their habitat and needs animals can broadly be divided into 4 subgroups : • Pets, Household animals • Farm animals, Animal husbandry • Urban Wildlife • Wildlife, Wild animals 6
Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
India & Street Dogs
After my initial research I realised that although a lot had been done for animals abroad, there was not much that had been done in India.
Human Population of Ahmedabad Dog population of Ahmedabad Rabid dog deaths daily in Ahmedabad Time between 2 rabid bites in India Human deaths everyday due to rabies
5,570,000 200,000 35 - 40 2 seconds 24
Apart from animal husbandry being a major occupation alongside agriculture, a animal related issue that has been a relevant topic lately is the problem of street dogs. The main reasons for the huge amount of street dogs, especially in urban India, is the large amounts of exposed garbage which provide food to the stray dogs, who would have otherwise starved. Also, a huge population of slum dwellers keeps them as free roaming pets and feeds them and takes care of them. These street dogs cause a number of problems like spreading diseases like rabies, scabies, and ticks and other parasites. They are known to attack humans. They create havoc by barking, howling and fighting with other dogs. Often they are traffic obstacles. Street dogs also create hygiene problems by urinating and defecating on roads.
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Govt & NGO Efforts
These problems have been recognised and there are various initiatives by the government as well as by NGOS to deal with the street dogs in humane ways. They are involved in vaccination, sterilisation and rehabilitation drives all over the country. India has one of the world’s highest rabid deaths and has thus gotten the attention of international organisations who have become involved with local NGOs to help. The main ways in which street dogs have been helped is with vaccination, sterilisation and de-worming drives. Vaccination and de-worming drives can be undertaken more easily as they can be done on the spot. However in the case of sterilisation, the animal needs to be kept in a hygienic area for 8 days. ‘Mission Rabies’ is a nationwide anti rabies drive that was started in Sept ‘13 which aims to vaccinate 50,000 dogs in 30 days in the most infected cities. After this first phase, it will be taken forward all over the country.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
After an online research, I tried contacting some of these NGOs in order to get feedback from them regarding which issues could be solved through design intervention. Unfortunately, I did not get much response from them.
Field Visits
As part of my research. I decided to meet with a few people who already work with dogs and get some insight from them. I visited Asha foundation which is a private organisation on the outskirts of Ahmedabad and spoke with the volunteers who work there to understand what veterinary practice is about. I looked at the facilities they had and understood how animals are treated and handled. I also visited a pet shop that had various products for pets like leashes, cages, beds, etc. apart from pet food and medicines. I even had a look at the rabies vaccinations and how they are stored. I also visited the local government veterinary clinic as well as a private clinic and spoke to the vets there. In this way I got a holistic image of animal care in India and a few ideas started coming to mind.
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Choosing a brief
After these stages, I finally had 3 concrete briefs in mind, of how I could design a product that would help humans help animals. • Stretcher for dogs During my visit at the Asha foundation I had noticed how dogs that need to be treated are carried by the volunteers. Dogs that are bigger and heavier are placed in sheets and 2 people carry them. In this process, the dog fidgets a lot and this may hurt him further. There is no proper way to transport them. I thought an equivalent to a human stretcher for dogs could help in such a situation. • Rabies Vaccination kit This would mainly be beneficial to vets that undertake vaccination drives in urban cities. The rabies vaccination needs to be stored at 4° C and thus it is difficult to transport it. The kit would make cold storage of the vaccines possible. The kit would also hold syringes, disinfectant swabs and take care of a hygienic disposal of used equipment.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
• Medical kit for vets I noticed that vets who make house visits do not have any proper bags or kits to carry medicines and other equipment. They generally have a briefcase where all the vials and bottles are just dumped. Sometimes the bottles break and there is no organisation. I finally decided to go ahead with the idea for the stretcher for dogs since it seemed to have more scope and was also the most relevant of the three. Although it strayed from my initial ideas to deal with street dogs and rabies, it was still true to helping animals.
Existing Product Study
• Walking aids Walking aids are not exactly stretchers, but are mainly to assist weak dogs, or those who do not have enough strength in their legs to support their body weight, due to certain diseases. They generally consist of a cloth sheath that is wrapped around the animal’s midriff and has a handle so that one can lift the dog a little while it walks on its own feet. The dog is in a standing posture. Advantages: A single user is able to help the dog walk, but that also depends on the weight of the animal. It can be stored easily, and is portable. Disadvantages: If the animal is very weak or unconscious it is not sufficient to carry the animal. Also for major injuries, it does not provide enough support or protection. Can be used only for relatively healthy dogs with walking problems.
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Existing Product Study
• Soft Stretcher Soft stretchers are textile stretchers that are used for first aid handling of sick dogs. They consist of a rectangular piece of cloth with or without handles and a restraining strap. Some may even consist of cloth that has been suspended between 2 rods. The dog’s posture could be sitting or sleeping. Advantages: They are easy to store and transport for rescue teams. They do not occupy much place, and the weight of the stretcher itself is negligible. Disadvantages: They are not stable and are not beneficial for dogs with major injuries and broken bones. Depending on the weight of the dog, 2-4 people may be required to carry the stretcher. It is not meant for single user mobility. There is no way to restrain a dog that is fidgeting. There is a certain amount of pressure that the textile exerts on the dog due to its own weight.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
Existing Product Study
• Stretcher with wheels & frame These kinds of stretchers generally have a metal frame with 2 or 4 wheels, to which a fabric is attached. These are generally used for heavily injured dogs, or larger, heavy dogs. In most cases, straps are provided to secure or restrain the animal to the stretcher during transportation. The dog’s posture could be sitting or sleeping. Advantages: Since they have wheels, it is easy to transport heavier dogs. In most cases , even single user mobility is possible. Depending on the size of the wheels, they can be used in various terrains. Disadvantages: Staircases and uneven terrain prove to be a problem. In such situations the stretcher needs to be lifted. They are not convenient to store, heavy.
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The Objective
After studying the existing products that are available in the market, I laid down a few specifications that I felt were necessary to design an optimum stretcher for dogs. The main aim of the stretcher was to facilitate safe and easy transportation of an injured, sick or old dog from location ‘A’ to a veterinary clinic or hospital. This location ‘A’ could be a home, a farm, or even the street. The stretcher could even be used within a clinic or hospital for moving the dog around. Additionally, it had to meet a few more objectives: • Single user mobility, with the help of wheels • Animal should be stable and constrained, with the help of straps • Stretcher must be light • Long handle for easy pulling of the stretcher by human • Compact for easy storage, foldable • Removable fabric stretcher for easy cleaning
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
The Scenario
In order to design this stretcher, I had to understand the scenario in which it would be used. I also had to establish why this stretcher was actually needed and why the current method of transporting dogs in sheets was harmful to them. I made a small story board to illustrate these. I spoke about how it was currently being done in India, and how the dog undergoes a lot of stress and agony to be treated for an injury or illness. I also established why it was important for us as humans to take care of dogs and make their life comfortable. There were 3 possible scenarios in which the stretcher could be used. The dog could either be injured due to an accident or a fight. It could be ill due to a sickness or disease. Or the dog could be old and thus unable to walk to the vet to get treated for something? In all 3 scenarios, the caretaker would have to use the srtecher to transport the dog.
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The target group
I obtained a chart from Pedigree, the dog food manufacturer, about the most popular dog breeds in India. I then made a weight - height comparison chart of all these breeds to understand what my target group would be. Since smaller and lighter dogs are easier to carry and transport, I decided to concentrate on helping the larger and heavier dogs.
Height range : Weight range :
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50 - 70 cms 30 - 50 kgs
Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Stretcher use
How would the stretcher be used? And what are all the steps that the user would have to go through between realising the dog needed to be taken to the vet until he actually reaches the vet or the hospital? I made a short storyboard to understand this process and do a small activity mapping exercise. Here I understood a lot of the problems that the user would face such as lifting the dog into the stretcher or how would he tackle stairs if he was alone?
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The Ownership System
Since it was not possible for every household with a dog to own such a stretcher, I had to think of a way in which the stretcher could still reach them when they needed it. I made a flowchart of how a stretcher would be available for everybody who need it. The red crosses indicate a stretcher.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Initial Ideas
According to the problem areas I had identified, I tried proposing solutions to them and how they could be incorporated in the stretcher. Some of these ideas included a retractable handle and to include a folding system to reduce the size of the stretcher. I had also thought about a bed that could be converted into a stretcher so that each household with a dog does not need to own a stretcher. A system like in crutches could be used to adjust the size of the stretcher to meet the needs of different sized dogs. Some of these ideas were taken forward while some were discarded since they were impractical or not that necessary.
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Stair Wheels
I wanted to make my stretcher usable by a single person. So I decided to provide wheels at the bottom so that the dog could be pushed eliminating the need to carry it. However, staircases and smaller level differences proved to be an obstacle. One way to avoid this problem was to have a wheel of a certain radius so that there was constantly a point of contact with stair surfaces. Taking the average riser height of a stair to be 16 cms, I calculated that the wheel would have to be 32 cm in diameter. This made the entire stretcher very large. I then found out about stair wheels and realised that they are a much better solution to dealing with stairs. Stair wheels are an invention that assist in tackling stairs. They consist of 3 smaller wheels that are set on an equilateral triangle. The centre of this triangle is the pivot of the entire wheel. Stair wheels pivot backward and forward to accommodate the height differences in stairs. They are vastly used in carts and wheelchairs. I decided to adapt them into the design of my stretcher. 20
Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Iterations I
I had taken a break from this course for a few months and I resumed with new ideas and concepts. I made a few sketches to illustrate these ideas. Some of the sketches dealt with how the stretcher would be constructed and function. I wanted to make sure I optimised the design. I tried to think of ways to make loading the dog onto the stretcher easier by lowering one side of the stretcher. The handle for pushing and pulling was another issue I tried to solve. I even tried using it to brake the wheels. I tried exploring the shape of the stretcher itself. However in the end I realised that the simple rectangle would probably work best. I played around with the idea of having a stretcher on 2 levels where the lower one would have all the hardware, while the upper one would have the surface for the dog to lie on.
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Iterations I
I tried to further detail out these ideas and make them possible. Some of the ones that did not make so much sense or were too impractical, I discarded and tried finding alternatives. I made iterations regarding how the handle could be placed in accordance to the stretcher. I tried finding different ways for it to compress and lock for use. I also tried exploring different ways to fold the stretcher since I wanted the final design to be compact to store. I had decided to use a canvas stretched across the frame and thus I had to figure out how it would fit onto the frame, keeping in mind the moving joints and folding. I finally made a sketch of a design I thought was a possibility. I also made a 3D model to visualize it better.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Iterations I
In this initial render, the handle (red) slid in and out on the inside of the frame. The front of the stretcher was in a lower U shape to incorporate the handle and also to facilitate easy loading of the dog onto the stretcher. However there were many problems with this model when I analysed it later. The joinery in the middle where the stretcher would fold was not strong or resolved enough. Stretching the canvas cloth over the frame was also proving to be a problem. I thus decided to work on the design a little more.
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Activity Analysis
I did a short activity analysis of the whole act of taking the dog to the vet to further understand what the exact problem areas would be. • The dog is sick/ injured; needs to be cured/ treated. • Stretcher taken out from storage area/ picked up/ called for; unfolded. • It is carried/ pushed to a position close to the dog. • User crouches next to the dog; lifts him onto the stretcher. • User makes sure the dog contained within the stretcher; secures straps around dog and tightens. • Pull out the handle; push and navigate the stretcher out of the house. • If lift is available, use lift; if stairs are available push the stretcher slowly using the stair wheels: slight lifting of the back castors might be required. • User navigates stairwells/ garden/ parking area. • Unlock the car; open the back door. • Ask passer-by/ driver/ watchman/ maid to help lift stretcher into car. • Shut the door; drive car to the vet. • Ask vet/ assistant/ passer-by/ driver to 24
Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
help unloading the stretcher. • Push stretcher to clinic/ hospital; navigate road, obstacles, steps, footpath. • Dog gets treated by vet either on the stretcher itself or is transferred to the table. • Is transferred back onto the stretcher
and can be taken back home. • Once home, the dog is lifted back onto bed/ carpet to rest. • In case cloth gets dirty in the journey, it can be removed and washed. • Fold and store stretcher.
Folding Mechanism
Since the earlier folding mechanism wasn’t the right option, I worked further on developing a folding mechanism. I made a few cardboard models to have a rough idea of how the joinery would work. I also developed a rotational pivot for the centre joint of the stretcher. However it was not the most apt for the pipes that I was using for the frame. I thought of using the same mechanism as in crutches for the rotational motion of the stair wheels when the stretcher is folded for storage. Using that mechanism I could pivot the wheel around the frame reducing the width of the folded stretcher.
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Folding mechanism
With the help of Kamlesh kaka, I decided to make working models of the joinery I would be using in the final stretcher. The final joinery would be made out of metal but I made one of the prototypes out of bamboo since it was easier and faster. The metal joinery alongside was the pivot for the stair wheels to pivot. It consisted of a solid metal insert in the pipe of the frame, along with a metal button and a spring. The stair wheel is connected to the pipe which rotates around the solid. The button needs to be pushed into the pipe to be able to rotate it. The bamboo mock up alongside is a self locking joinery for the centre of the stretcher to fold in half. The MDF sheet shown here will be a half cylinder. The sharp corners do not let the joint fold upwards and thus the stretcher is stable when the weight of the dog is exerted on it. The joinery pieces had filleted corners that allow for movement around them.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Ergonomic Study
It was the first time I was designing something apart from furniture and I decided to study the ergonomics of pushing and pulling. I referred a lot to articles related to the safe usage of carts and goods carriers in industries since the weight being dealt with in both cases was very similar to mine. I read articles related to the design of carts and their ergonomical usage in relation to occupational ergonomics. I read up on the optimum size and material for wheels. I understood that Neoprene rubber is the best material for most surfaces. Also swivel castors help in easily manoeuvring small spaces. Other issues related to pushing and pulling were the height and length of the handle and the thickness of the grip. I also understood how ergonomics for pushing and pulling differ and thus made the handle adjustable for both situations by pivoting from the front.
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Anthropometric Data
Since I was designing the stretcher for use in India, I decided to take reference from the Indian anthropometric data. (Indian Anthropometric Dimensions for Ergonomic Design Practice) I also sketched out where each dimension would be applied. In this way I decided the appropriate size and dimensions for the stretcher.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Iterations II
Once the joinery was decided upon, I made a few final iterations regarding the textile and the handle. I also decided on a few dimensions in accordance with the ergonomic data and anthropometric values I had gathered.
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Technical Drawings
I was done with iterations and deciding on the joinery for the stretcher, and went ahead to make technical drawings in CAD. Basic dimensions are given. All dimensions are in cms.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Renders
With the colour scheme of the stretcher, I wanted it to give a slight hint of being a medical device. However, I wanted it to be cheerful and attractive. I thus decided on a darker blue and orange straps. The orange straps are like a warning sign to passers-by to be careful. Both are made from canvas cloth, which is a sturdy strong material. The buckles on the straps are made of strong plastic. The frame of the stretcher is made from aluminium rods which are anodized to stay rust free and clean. This increases the sanitary value and decreases the weight of the stretcher. The telescopic part of the handle is painted the same blue as the fabric to highlight it and show differentiation. The wheels are made of neoprene rubber and the pivots are highlighted in glossy black.
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Renders
Various details are visible in the exploded view alongside. The hidden joineries with solid inserts are visible at the various pivoting points. Also the form of the textile and its cutouts are also clearly visible. These cut-outs are necessary for various joineries and the folding process.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Renders
I tried exploring the colour palette a little bit to give the stretcher a more fun and attractive look before deciding on the final look. Some of them looked too much like a medical device, while others started looking like a toy. I find my final colour palette is a good compromise.
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The Folding Process
This stretcher is designed to be comfortably stored in small spaces such as the home or a clinic. Its joinery is strong enough to support an adult dog, but folds smoothly reducing the size of the stretcher to less than half. It folds in 5 simple steps as demonstrated in the images. The handle is first retracted and folded onto the frame by pressing the pivots in the front half of the frame. The whole stretcher can then be folded in half downward. Finally the stair wheels are folded in by releasing the pivots at the back.
In use size : Folded size :
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72 × 100 × 95 cms. 85 × 20 × 55 cms.
Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hörig
Usage on Stairs
While going down stairs, the user pushes the stretcher in front of him. The handle can be rotated for comfort by releasing the pivots in the front of the stretcher. While going up stairs, the user pulls the stretcher behind him. The dog must always be facing upwards while using the staircase.
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Pamphlet
I decided to design a small pamphlet to explain my design at a glance as well as to highlight the use and features of the stretcher. The pamphlet could also later double as an advertisement or propaganda piece for promotion of the stretcher amongst dog caretakers, vets or even the general public. It talks about why the stretcher is needed, and in what scenario it can be used. The main features of the stretcher are highlighted. It also gives a quick introduction on how to use the stair wheels and the folding process.
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Stretcher for Dogs | Vanessa Hรถrig
Bibliography
www.ccohs.ca : Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety : Pushing and Pulling handcarts.
Indian Anthropometric Data for Designers : NID publication
www.google.com www.darcor.com : Wheel selection www.stokke.com : Pram study www.behance.com www.mariocarrelli.it : Stair wheels www.wsdindia.org : Information on dogs www.missionrabies.com : Rabies eradication in India
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