🏆 Winner: Lockheed Martin Best Project Award
🏆 Winner: First Place – Best Poster Award
🏆 Winner: Third Place – Best Video Award
The objective of this project is to design an inexpensive, intuitive, and universal hands-free bathroom stall latch to reduce the transmission of germs or viruses in public restrooms.
Sponsored By: Mid Atlantic Techincal and Executive Consulting (MATEC)
Team Members
Joshua Uberti | Rachel Sullivan | Blake Dickerson | Stephen Waskiw | Minkyung Kan | | | | | | |
Project Poster
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Watch the Project Video
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Project Summary
Overview
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run rampant throughout the world, germs have become the focal point of everyday life. One place commonly considered to be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses is a public restroom. In response to the pandemic, a hands-free, intuitive, and inexpensive bathroom stall latch was created to decrease the transfer of germs and keep the public safe.
Objectives
– Develop an intuitive, hands-free bathroom stall latch that allows for the stall door to be opened, closed, locked, and unlocked without hands.
– Ensure that the aforementioned product adheres to ADA guidelines.
Approach
– Discussions were held with MATEC sponsors and liaisons to establish customer needs.
– The team researched existing solutions and patent information to brainstorm all possible solutions.
– Research of the dimensions of latches in restrooms on the Penn State campus was conducted.
– The first iteration of designs was presented to the MATEC liaisons and adjustments were made based on the feedback received.
– CAD models of several iterations of design were drawn and assembled.
– FEA analysis was conducted on each iteration of the design to determine impact tolerances.
– Three prototypes were 3D printed to show the proof-of-concept design of the latch.
– Impact testing was performed on the prototype by hanging bags of various weights and sizes on the latch to see if the latch could support the weight.
– The final design was reviewed and approved by the MATEC liaisons, and the validity of the new invention was discussed with a patent lawyer. A provisional patent was filed shortly thereafter.
Outcomes
– The prototype and manufacturing drawings were sent to a manufacturing plant to run a test batch of latches.
– A provisional patent was filed with an actual patent being submitted by the end of the year.
– The product allowed for an individual to enter, lock, unlock, and exit the bathroom stall of a public restroom without ever grabbing the door.