Mums I need your help again please! :)

[JPitt]

Hi, my name is James and I am doing a design project for a degree course at Sussex University.

This post is a follow up to a previous one that was titled 'Mums I need your help please!'

I was so grateful to all of the people who replied and gave some brilliant and very useful thoughts and ideas about my project.
I have taken the comments and used them to single out a product that I can look into further.

I am creating a method of restricting the areas in the house from young children that may be dangerous.

I believe the stair gate design to be flawed as if it is not fitted correctly or fails, the child can fall immediately down the stairs. I have researched countless product recall articles and other documents that describe a stairgate failing in one way or another, leading to the child falling down the stairs with it.

I think a much safer method would be to put a gate or series of gates in doorways, landings and halls. This way, danger areas including kitchen, bathroom and stairs can be restricted, without the child being in or around the risk area at all.

The following images are a design of a single swing gate. Each image has a description underneath it.

Any thoughts you have on this product. Good or bad, questions, ideas etc would be greatly appreciated once again!

Pictures:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

So is the main difference that it is free standing? (I may have missed something)

My opinion is that it looks rather.......industrial.

The main advantage of my current stairgate that seperates my kitchen and dining room is that my daughter can play in the dining while I'm cooking and she can still see me.

I wouldn't like to have a gate that I couldn't see her through TBH.

I really like the last one - the see-through gate - totally agree with TMInamechange about needing to be able to see the kids easily!
I think the design looks way cooler than any other designs I've seen on the market - quite funky looking.

Hi, yes the free standing feature gives it the flexibility to be quickly moved around if need be. The idea is that the gate needs no DIY knowledge to fit and that it provides a barrier that is fitted away from the stair area all together. This is to eliminate the risks involved with using gates on stairs.

I understand the need to be able to see through it so I just need to now think of a development that allows this without the problem of sticky finger marks that would appear very quickly all over picture number 8.

Many thanks

yep i think it looks cool,the only thing i would worry about is the fact its freestanding,how heavy is it?could it not be pushed over?

Hi sazm, it will not be very heavy so you can move it around easily enough. It will be held down to the carpet with a hook loop sheet similar to velcro. On a hard floor I have a few gels that I am strength testing.

The hook loop is very strong and just 10 inch square of it on a standard loop carpet will support a weight of up to about 160kg hanging off it. I have done some lab tests on it recently! The gel samples I have got are going to be tested this week but are of similar strengths.

The issue will be covering the correct amount of the base with hook loop or gel matting so that it doesnt move by a child pushing it or running at it, but at the same time can still be removed by the adult if need be.

would the gel/hook loop sheet not damage the flooring?
i really like the clear one,would it work out to be expensive?

Hi, no it doesnt damage the floor at all, it has been designed especially to grip carpet. There are several products already on the market that use this type of fixing system.

The market cost will be in the same range as stair gates that are currently available. I am looking into manufacturing techniques to ensure to costs are as low as possible.

Thankyou for your input

cool,well hopefully it will be available to buy shortly,
good luck with your project
sarahx