Pogo

작품의 기능

Pogo is a universal manual pencil sharpener that sharps a pencil by pumping it up and down a few times, without requiring electricity or batteries. It aims to be the most inclusive pencil sharpener in the market, used by anyone, from anywhere.

영감의 원천

We were inspired by the question that even well-intentioned universal designs can create new exclusions. Despite pencils being the most universal tool to brainstorm and realize ideas, we found that pencil sharpeners were not as inclusive - Anyone can use it, but not everyone gets to use it in comfort. Design changes for specific user groups can become a new barrier that excludes others. So we hoped to make a solution that would inherently widens the spectrum of users instead.

작동원리

Pogo works by pumping a pencil up and down a few times to sharpen a pencil. Unlike typical pencil sharpeners, Vertical movement of the pencil itself is transferred to rotational action of the blade, sharpening the pencil. This can greatly simplify the usage of mechanical pencil sharpeners while remaining unpowered. The pencil is gripped together with Pogo’s elastic handle. It aids the hand’s grip, and prevents the pencil from slipping and turning while sharpening. When pressed in, the pencil drives the blade mechanism, which spins to sharpen the pencil. A spring returns the blade back to initial position, while a vertical ratchet ensures smooth, one-way rotation. Then a tension spring pushes the mechanism back to its initial vertical position, ensuring every corner of the pencil will be cut procedurally and evenly. These steps are repeated until the pencil is fully sharpened.

개발 과정

In order to be as universal as possible, Our main focus was to plan out what form of use our project would have to take- 1. Optimized for Single-handed usage, 2. No power required, 3. Easy to empty and clean. Initially we began exploring ideas by disassembling and analyzing many pencil sharpeners available on the market. Then we brainstormed various actions that would be both simple and obvious to use, and made correlating mechanical mock-ups to validate and test motions in real life. We found that making a ‘pumping action’ would be most space-efficient, and fitting way for our project, somewhat reminiscent of ‘dipping’ quill pens in ink bottles, or playful pogo sticks. The most troublesome part was making the motion-mechanism stable. We found it hard to smoothly transition the initial pushing force into the mechanism’s cutting force, Constantly jamming the mechanism or getting uneven cutting results. So once we learned that cushioning the pushing force while maintaining a strict feeding path was crucial for this project, We began testing iterations of the design, 3D printing and testing different rail formations and lengths, and making modifications until it was able to give constant desired results.

독창성

What makes Pogo stand out is the integration of form of use and function, into its appearance. Pogo aims to ensure comfortable usage for everyone, from everywhere. So every component’s appearance is designed with function and user comfort in mind. Typical manual pencil sharpeners has to be held firm by one hand and cranked with the other. Since Pogo only needs to be pushed downwards to work, it only needs a flat surface and a single hand to operate. It also does not need to be powered like electric versions. Due to its refined mechanical design, Pogo could leave out large components such as shafts and cranks, resulting in a much more compact and linear form. This makes Pogo much less stationary than average pencil sharpeners.

향후 계획

We first plan to Collect user feedback with actual households and schools to further improve and complete this project. Then, with this project as base, we aim to expand the project into a series of everyday products and deskware that many people can enjoy and use comfortably.

수상 내역