Inventor designs mug to help disabled and elderly
10 June 2013
handSteady – the answer for people who struggle with standard cups
handSteady is an innovative drinking aid that makes drinking more comfortable for the 1 in 6 of the population who have a health condition. It is the world’s first cup with a rotatable handle and this enables people to drink in highly stable positions without needing to twist their wrist, raise their elbow or lean their head back as far. I designed handSteady because a close family member was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I could see him struggle to hold a cup steady and how finding standard cups difficult to use was making drinking unsafe and could one day really affect his social life. As a designer I knew I had to come up with an answer.
So I developed handSteady with 35 health professionals and 72 people with various health conditions. Diane Patent from Stevenage said, “I have weakness down my left hand side & my hands can be shaky. handSteady is extremely light, easy to use & comfortable. I love it & use it all the time.”
It was at IBM where I was first taken seriously as an inventor. I then went to the Royal College of Art to do a 2 years Masters in Industrial Design Engineering to develop my skills as a designer.
Guys and St Thomas’ Charity are backing the project and it’s made in Britain, by a precision manufacturing company that ensure the product meets ISO9001 standards.
handSteady can be ordered for a 30 day trial from www.handsteady.com.
More information:
1. I’m available for interviews at 078 9420 7980 / chris.peacock@handsteady.com and can do Simulrec. I have 4 users available for interviews as case-studies. Online press kit available at: www.handsteady.com/press.
2. Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity contact Brianna Elms, Head of Communications on 0207 1881218 or 07722 119157 or communications@gsttcharity.org.uk or visit www.gsttcharity.org.uk.
3. handSteady helps people with Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Essential Tremor, Parkinson’s Disease and Post-Polio Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Survivors.
