Charmy

What it does

Charmy is a safety device that detects the load applied to the handle of the stroller and conveys the danger of falling. The purpose is to convey the "dangerous weight" applied to the handle and prevent the stroller from tipping over.

Your inspiration

In recent years, the number of accidents in which infants are seriously injured due to falls while using a stroller is increasing. According to a survey by the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there were 288 cases of injuries caused by a stroller falling or an infant falling between 2014 and 2019. In some cases, a fall can result in a major injury that causes traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. According to a questionnaire survey conducted by the center for users who have experienced falls, 71% of the respondents answered that the cause was "stroller hook luggage". Charmy is a product that is responsible for solving this problem.

How it works

The mechanism is a simple structure that combines an existing stroller hook with a pressure sensor / small piezoelectric speaker / LED lamp. The buzzer and LED convey the dangerous weight of the handle's stroller hook. First, when the pressure sensor detects the dangerous weight of the stroller handle (1.2 kg on one side of the handle), the controlled piezoelectric speaker and LED lamp are activated to convey the danger. In addition, this product has an exterior design that fits the exterior of the current stroller. We aimed for a simple, iconic and familiar exterior design that would make users want to use this product to protect their children's safety.

Design process

① Concept proposal: Falling strollers is one of the social problems, but manufacturers do not have the cost of making strollers just to prevent them from falling. Under such circumstances, if we, as consumers, could find a clue to solve the problem, we thought that the company and society as a whole would start to move with awareness of the problem, and came up with a product proposal. ② Prototype stage: At the prototype stage, we created a special jig that can be easily verified while making fine adjustments, and determined the sensor values ​​and load conditions. Also, regarding the exterior design of the main body, we made various prototypes and examined the appropriate size based on the layout plan of the microcomputer and sensors. ③Operability (affordance): When attaching the Charmy to the handle of the stroller, we devised the same operation as the conventional stroller hook so that the user can attach it without hesitation. We paid particular attention to the placement of parts so that the power on / off, installation, and charging operations can be operated naturally.

How it is different

Currently, most of the stroller hook markets are sold simply as hooks for hanging luggage, and do not have a load detection function or a danger transmission function. Charmy believes that it can differentiate itself from other products in this respect. In addition, by using Charmy, we aimed for a cute appearance so that users can enjoy raising their children.

Future plans

Charmy developed this time has developed a safety device for the purpose of "load detection and danger transmission" with a focus on solving problems in stroller operation. However, there are many other cases where the "load detection and danger transmission" function can be applied. For example, in 2018, the number of children complaining of back pain due to the load of school bags is increasing. In the future, we believe that we can provide products that solve problems by changing the information transmission method without breaking the core function of "load detection and danger transmission" that Charmy has.

Awards