 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
I recently designed and made a ski lock for a GCSE project. It is designed to lock your skis on the slopes, as you go to a restaurant/bar and would normally leave them unattended. It weights 73g and is about the size of the palm of your hand. I've attached some pictures below of it, and some of it on a pair of skis. I would be grateful if you could say what is successful about it and how it could be improved, thinking in both about its effectiveness on the slopes as I haven't been able to test it in this environment. Thanks a lot.
https://postimg.cc/gallery/d0NX8kq
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I like it and would be tempted to buy one. It would depend on the material it is made of and how easy would it be to twist open or break the lock. I wonder if a key mechanism might be better than a combination lock? Bear in mind anything plastic becomes brittle in very cold weather (you may need to test it by putting it in a freezer overnight). One thing to take into account is that such a lock wouldn't allow skis to be locked to a ski rack, as is the case with those with a telescopic wire. However as ski locks are more of a deterrent rather than a robust security device this might not be a problem.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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for GSCE level that looks excellent
Only observations, are that different ski widths might not work with the standard width? And it looks a bit bulky/irrebular for sticking in your pocket.
Ive used a simple extending wire one for years.
So the nub of the matter is how much and how long they would last
But very good idea and productiom
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@oscarhanna, well done, but I would want to lock the skis to something - I use one with an extendable wire which goes through the bindings and round a ski rack bar.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Design looks quite nice and stylish. As has already been said it would need to be modified to allow for different sized skis. I see there are notches that would appear to accommodate poles, but not secure them. Modifying the design to allow poles to be secured would add to its appeal.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yeah, nice.
Obviously the downside is that the skis only lock together rather than to something else. But, up a mountain, perhaps one of the bigger threats is not just theft but idiots making off with the wrong skis. So you’d hope this could alleviate that somewhat.
As said by others above, I’ve carried around a retractable wire lock for years. It would be snipped in a second with a decent set of hand cutters but it does the minimum job of making my skis a bit more difficult to nick than another set (although my skis being ten years old now and “well worn” is another distraction. Having something to allow the skis to be secured to something could be a version 2?
Good work though.
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| oscarhanna wrote: |
Hi Guys,
I recently designed and made a ski lock for a GCSE project. It is designed to lock your skis on the slopes, as you go to a restaurant/bar and would normally leave them unattended. It weights 73g and is about the size of the palm of your hand. I've attached some pictures below of it, and some of it on a pair of skis. I would be grateful if you could say what is successful about it and how it could be improved, thinking in both about its effectiveness on the slopes as I haven't been able to test it in this environment. Thanks a lot.[img]https://postimg.cc/gallery/d0NX8kq[/img] |
https://postimg.cc/gallery/d0NX8kq
fixed link
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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It's a nice design and looks cool.
However, in resorts where I'm concerned I use this lock. It's a bit stronger than the retractable ones but small enough to fit comfortably in my backpack. As the cable detaches totally from the lock it's easy to apply and also very easy to tether the skis TO something as well as to then thread the cable through the bindngs.
Ski Lock
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Product design has many stages and I think that what you are seeing here are two of the stages:
1) design a product to meet the brief
2) refine the product to be commercial / compete against the current market / etc.
You have I think achieved stage 1 with great success - at GCSE level that is a superb product to meet your brief, it looks well designed, neat and a good basic solution.
However, you are also hearing some very good feedback above which I would put into stage 2 - how to be commercial and compete. As your product is now, it would not be commercial and wouldn't make sense to manufacture it. As others have identified, it doesn't have the flexibility to adapt to different ski widths or thicknesses, it is a little less compact than alternatives, it doesn't have the flexibility to lock the skis to a post etc.
So, how do you get to the end of stage 1 and be ready for stage 2 (and not have wasted your time?) - the answer is in how you develop - so rapid prototyping methodologies help with this - with every thought development / step you take you put the idea up against the market / do research / evaluate it for manufacturing (obviously all at a simple level), but it helps you to continually refine the product...
I am not sure what the process has been for you at school, but one of the obvious ways of doing this is to not design in the abstract, but to look at what is on the market as a part of the initial design, so that you see the advantages / disadvantages of those items, and make sure that your product has more advantages and fewer disadvantages.
I think that what you have done is superb, but the challenge will be to ask what does someone want, and maybe the answer (using above comments) will be:
- compact
- light to carry
- quick to use
- can lock one or more sets of skis
- can lock to a post
- less easy to snip through
So, you then factor those into how you design...
One thing also to remember is to ask yourself what triggers someone to purchase an item?
Everything in life is bought because of:
- need (e.g. bread / milk / etc.)
- desire (e.g. fashion / sports cars / jewellery / etc.)
- a mix of the two
So, why would someone buy a ski lock - and possibly the answer is not fully about security (many people have insurance either through ski hire or their travel insurance), it is more the hassle / inconvenience of your skis being taken when you are halfway up a mountain - stopping you from skiing / meaning you have the hassle of sorting it out...
So, the cheap locks with the extendable wire (and I carry one) is okay - it is not the most secure if someone is determined to steal your skis, but it stops someone taking them by mistake (easy to do if there are lots of hire skis of the same type) and that may be enough - so cheap, cheerful and functional is all that is needed. I could carry a mugh heavier chain - but I don't want the weight and it gives me nothing extra...
keep on though - superb product design... (I used to own / run a product design company).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nice design but I'd mirror some of the comments above; ski size, material strength, lack of a cable and ease of carrying.
This design is similar and gets?around some of those issues...
https://skilock.co.uk/
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Does it just lock the skis to each other (so thief just lifts the pair and takes the lock off later at their leisure ) or does it allow you to fix the skis to some immovable object?
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What about poles? Are the indentations for poles?
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You know it makes sense.
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Suggestion:
Instead of building the lock into the device, just have two overlapping holes. Then fit either a padlock or a cable lock if you want to tie it to something else.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Yes - to clarify the holes at the back of the product are for clipping your poles in. They are a standard size of 16mm.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I don’t see the point of having the middle piece that goes between the 2 skis.
As long as the lock can’t go over the brakes, the skis are “locked”. One fewer piece to manufacture.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@oscarhanna, I have nothing add to the feedback already posted, but I did want to say that you look to have done an excellent job for a GCSE project. Coming up with an evaluation/conclusion based on some of this feedback should help you to get a great grade. Well done.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| oscarhanna wrote: |
| Yes - to clarify the holes at the back of the product are for clipping your poles in. They are a standard size of 16mm. |
Personally the product would be more attractive if the poles can be locked. Never have I ever thought that people would steal poles until my poles were stolen in my last trip!! I hung my poles on my skis (with the straps over my skis). When I came back the skis were still there but the poles were gone!! My poles aren't that expensive (although they are telescopic). I just can't believe people would steal two metal sticks!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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This looks good although waist up to 96mm is a dealbreaker for me...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| euanovsky wrote: |
| oscarhanna wrote: |
| Yes - to clarify the holes at the back of the product are for clipping your poles in. They are a standard size of 16mm. |
Personally the product would be more attractive if the poles can be locked. Never have I ever thought that people would steal poles until my poles were stolen in my last trip!! I hung my poles on my skis (with the straps over my skis). When I came back the skis were still there but the poles were gone!! My poles aren't that expensive (although they are telescopic). I just can't believe people would steal two metal sticks! |
I see quite a few people taking their poles into on mountain restaurants with them these days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It looks good.
Will it come in different colours, my wife's favourite colour is purple.
Is it light enough to fit in a pocket.
Does it have a carry case?
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@llywelyn1984, why does it need a carry case to add extra bulk? Genuine question
The OP states 73g....light enough for my pocket
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@oscarhanna, considering that you first asked for feedback on ski locks on this forum at the end of January, I think you have made huge progress in a relatively short period of time. Congratulations.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I was thinking with a boot buddy.
You can have a basic one.
Or one with a cloth case and a few cloth wipes.
If you keep it in your pocket and crash, you don't want anything sharp in your pocket!
A rounded off case would negate this.
I don't ski with a bag, I just load up my jacket pockets!
Just a thought!?
Didn't he post in march?
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@llywelyn1984, fair enough, I use a bum bag so nothing in my pocket apart from wallet and key. I don't know what a boot buddy is.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@oscarhanna, out of curiosity what software did you use to your initial drawing? And did you 3d print the parts? Just thought you got from conception to production in warp speed! Kudos to that. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| llywelyn1984 wrote: |
It looks good.
Will it come in different colours, my wife's favourite colour is purple.
Is it light enough to fit in a pocket.
Does it have a carry case? |
Hi, Yes I 3D printed it so I can make it in different colours. I will likely not include a carry case as one of the most important things about this is its portability, which I am still trying to improve by reducing the size am grateful for the suggestion of taking out the middle piece and/or using a cable to lock it instead.
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I used Fusion and then 3D printed it out of PLA. Admittedly I did some 'retrospective research' as I started designing the product on CAD before Christmas, but I then changed it once I got a greater idea of what most people want when I first posted on the forum.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thank you to everyone who posted feedback, from people who wrote loads of ideas to those who just reiterated what others said - it has all been very useful and it has all gone in my coursework folder. I have analysed this feedback and suggested improvements for if I was to make the product again. I will likely complete a few sketches for ideas of an improved version before the deadline next Thursday.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@oscarhanna, well done. Good luck with it.
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