collapsable – DesignApplause

Porta-bote.

Jun 15, 2012

This summer something caught my eye on top of a neighbor’s SUV. It looked like a lighter – than – air aircraft wing but found out it was a collapsable boat. It looks much better in vitro than in these photos.

Adding collapsability into the design criteria can be a bit of a challenge. Here is a product that is not new and because of it’s design is quite popular.

This is a Porta-Bote, a flexible V-hull craft. Its keel and concave “vee” section provide exceptional directional stability. The hull design means the Bote is more comfortable to ride in because the flexible polypropylene hull absorbs shocks and does not bounce like an inflatable or pound like a rigid boat. The flexible hull allows for easy, stable standing. The inside of the hull is rough-surfaced for traction, even when wet.

When you stand up, the hull flattens against the water’s surface with a suction effect adding to the stability. Because of the wide 5-foot beam, the boat is exceptionally stable even when fully loaded and planing at full speed. The same suction effect that allows you to stand up safely also keeps the boat solidly on the surface. It feels good to stand up and stretch, look out over the water and comfortably fly cast with no worries about the Bote tipping over.

The Porta-Bote Company says there over 50,000 Porta-Botes afloat around the world. Some are as old as 30 years and still floating. Porta-Botes attribute their durability to the unique design hinges and lightweight, flexible polypropylene hull. The hinges are waterproof and can take a stress of over 90,000 pounds per square inch. They are designed to take a beating.

The hull utilizes an ultra-violet filter and anti-oxidant for resistance to sun and saltwater damage. This hull material is used in Astro-Turf, car bumpers and highway signs. Porta-Bote’s “Flexi-Hull” flexes inward and absorbs wave energy and disperses its force.

The same flexibility allows the Bote to “give” safely when bumping against underwater obstacles. The Porta-Bote’s hull is almost �1/4 inch thick, thicker than an aluminum hull. It never needs painting and only requires an occasional wipe down the outside hull and hinges with a some vinyl-protectant.

The Porta-Bote can be used on ponds, lakes and rivers. It can be a fishing boat, a sailboat (with optional sail kit), a duck-hunting boat, a ship-to-shore dinghy or just a weekend family pleasure boat. It can easily be transported on top of most vehicles, RVs, seaplanes and yak. The British Royal Air Force Climbing & Rescue Team used it on their record setting climb up Mt. Everest. The team used the Porta-Bote at 20,000 feet to cross a glacier lake. Inflatables were too puncture-prone and unreliable while ordinary rigid boats were too heavy to carry up Everest.

It takes about 20 minutes to set up and 10 minutes to fold it back up at the end of the day. It is four inches thick when folded.

more info at porta-boat tackle tour

Seoul cycle design competition 2010.

Sep 28, 2010

The Seoul Design Foundation together with designboom presents the winners of an international design competition. The Seoul Cycle Design Competition’s theme, ‘cycling with design: Seoul style,’ and is part of Seoul’s city-wide effort at improving its design brand and image. Once considered a ‘hard’ city, Seoul is making strides toward becoming a ‘soft’ city, embracing design concepts that will redefine its urban environment with an emphasis on themes centering on green, blue, history, and human. The winners were announced September 19.

and the winner is…
Bike 2.0 by Nils Sveje, Inoda Sveje design studio & IPU Produktudvikling

designer’s own words: bike 2.0 the next generation bicycle, will give you more fun with energy boosts when you are cruising around. it makes your daily ride more comfortable with energy leveling and the stepless gearbox. you can even add the seat-tube battery and get there faster. bike 2.0 has a generator and wires instead of a chain, so you will never get oily pants or fingers from the chain again. the two wireless control-units will control any aspect of your ride. you can easily control all this with the two wireless rings on the handlebar.

short listed concepts included…
Beik by Lukas Jungmann

left: featuring audi branding, folding mechanism, articulated frame steering and the untypical frame setup.

Full Circle by Sanghyun jeong & Jun-Tae Park

left: foldable compact size, large wheel size (508mm, 20inch), no chains but free wheel gear directly connects to pedals.

Tribune by Thüring Lukas, Lukas Thüring & Florian V

left: electric operated tricycle-recumbent bike, external battery, lockable boot to store items above rear wheel, adjustable headrest / pedals, flexible backrest, front / rear lights.

Molecule by Yongjin Lee

left: body is modeled on the river Han of Seoul.

Ridenpush by You Ho Jeon

left: a riding bicycle with a wagon can convert into a pushcart when heavy, intended for the elderly.

X Bike by Woogyeong Go, Dong-ha Kim & Kyeongpyo Cho

left: looks like the letter “X”, no chain technology.

T-bike by Jung Geun Tak & Shinhyun Kang of T.A.K studio

left: iconic design, folding handlebars doubles as lock, embedded GPS, E-INK and EPD technology monitor, adjustable seat with seat height index indicator and can be adjusted while seated.

Carrier Bike by Shin Hyung Sub Shin

left: a convenient carrier, shelf located in the middle of the bicycle, designed to help carry the users luggage.

Helo by Junkyo Lee

left: unique body, integrated lock design to prevent theft.

Unico by miguel angel iranzo sanchez

left: constructed in one piece without welds, every part is recyclable, pigments (even fluorescent ones) can be mass-injected, rigid frame / flexible fork.

left: folding cycle, super-formed aluminum frame, hubless pedal system, hollow main axis, neatly folded look.

Resources:
designboom
seoul design fair
yanko design

Eco 7 folding bicycle.

Oct 19, 2009

the eco 7 folding bicycle’s concept is to be as compact as possible, including collapsible wheels.

the design is intended for urban use and folds up to save space when not in use. while folding bikes are nothing new, aleman takes his design to a new level with folding bike wheels.

above: each wheels is composed of six pieces connected through double-pivot joints. the spokes of the wheel fold into the rim and fold out when opened up to provide structure to the wheel. the tire isn’t inflatable, allowing it to break into segments. the bike frame itself also shrinks down in size when taken apart, folding into itself and the core components.

the design may take awhile to fold and unfold and not for everyone but the folding wheel concept is interesting. the pedals should go back to the drawing board or stay with the conventional, especially clips or cleats. maybe traditional tubes tires too.

Designer: victor aleman

Cannondale. Collapsable Jackknife.

Sep 24, 2008

Have been sitting on this post awhile getting into the mood for collapsable concepts and product. Though the “Jackknife” was created in 2006 it was worth posting as the styling and design was noteworthy.

The concept was designed by Philippe Holthuizen and Rodrigo Clavel for a contest sponsored by Cannondale Europe. Both are graduate students of transportation design at the Elisava Design School
in Barcelona.

The pair’s design for an urban bike called the Jackknife was so named because of the way that it folds for easy handling in elevators and on public transportation. Another feature that makes this bike practical for commuting and riding around town is the hydraulic drive system, which stays clean and requires very little maintenance. The design incorporates several features that characterize the Cannondale brand such as oversized tubing, HeadShok front suspension, and a “lefty” monoblade fork.

>
A year later the above photo from Bicycle Design with words from the author. “Just recently, I ran across this picture of the Jackknife prototype from the 2006 Fiets Rai show in Holland. Can anyone who attended the show let me know what was being said about this concept bike? I assume that Cannondale Europe is just using it as a show bike to generate attention, but I am curious if they are actively developing any elements from it. If any of you have heard anything, let me know.”

The following pics are from the Cannondale site with a historical development story inspired by the Jackknife concept…

Heritage: Cannondale Raven II with Lefty fork (1999)

Raven III Urban Concept (2004)

Jan 2006 – ID Dept. starts The Quantum Leap Project Goal: A ridable and fully functional bike inspired by the Jackknife

Frame, Righty Fork, and Case Closed Technology

Sweet looking final Product.

via bicycle design cannondale

Flatterware. Collapsable cup.

Sep 24, 2008

Like sophisticated Transformers, these products fold to save space and to reveal a new function. The Flatterware cup body is molded out of a single piece of flexible plastic, with a helical structure allowing it to spring open and close with ease.

Just give it a simple twist, the bright plastic disc turns into an eco-friendly mini-tumbler. The bottom of the cup sits in the hard lower part and sort of grows out of the base, creating an easy-to-grip glass with a hard rim (great for spillers). It definitely has a rubber-plastic whiff to it initially, but that should be no problem since this 12-ounce travel companion is dishwasher-safe—you also have to wash it in hot water before use to “activate the cup’s spring memory” and help dissipate the smell.

The rim of the cup is very rigid, keeping any spills from happening. The helix design gives two benefits, one being it twists back down into the base with a smooth feel and clicks shut easily, the other being it stabilizes the cup so you do not have to grip it gently to avoid spills. At 12 ounces it is a large travel cup! Flatterware collapsible cup, $5 USD.

via flatterware pretty bourgeois mountain zone