Plastics designs win prizes for safety and security
A plastic bag hook to discourage handbag theft and a warning sign that heightens awareness without risking the lives of motorists to place it won first and second prizes at this year’s Design Innovation in Plastics 2007 student plastics design awards
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The winner was Sara Bellini from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design for her “Keepsafe” Personal Bag Security Accessory – a personal bag hook designed to promote bag theft awareness and bag responsibility. A suction cap is activated by pulling down the tail of the device to allow it to secure bags to tables and chairs.
Even more ingenious, in our opinion, however, was the “Roof Angel” warning sign conceived and prototyped by Daniel Biddle from the University of Huddersfield. This consists of an arrow sign illuminated by LEDs, that packs flat but can be quickly unfolded, pushed together and placed on a car roof where it is secured by magnets. Biddle told that, “I just stumbled on the idea when I was researching into road accidents. I found that in the Highway Code you are not allowed to deploy a warning triangle on the motorway. Walking back to erect one, you are liable to be hit by a truck”. When we asked what its advantages were over hazard lights, he replied, “It’s the height. It gives advance warning. My inspiration came from the signs on motorway maintenance vehicles”. Wind tunnel tests show that it stays on car roofs at wind speeds of up to 80kph. The Awards were handed out at a ceremony on Friday June 29th at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Sponsors included: Bayer Materials Science, the Worshipful Company of Horners, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Dupont, Bighead Bonding Fasteners, PDD and Hi-Technology Group.
For more information: www.iom3.org/designaward2007
