The RatchAdapt
An ergonomic ratchet developed through field research, optimized for injection molding, & currently patent pending
Client/ Partners:
Occupational Ergonomics
Product Design
Design For Manufacturing
The RatchAdapt
An ergonomic ratchet developed through field research, optimized for injection molding, & currently patent pending
Occupational Ergonomics
Product Design
Design For Manufacturing
Client/ Partners:
Highlights:
U.S. Utility Patent Pending: Angle-Adjustable Hand Tool (Pub. No. US 2024/0293919 A1)
Designed for injection molding from project outset including draft angles, parting lines, and overmolding
Four wrist-neutral grip configurations in a single ambidextrous handle
Informed by direct observation and user testing with working mechanics
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Highlights:
U.S. Utility Patent Pending: Angle-Adjustable Hand Tool (Pub. No. US 2024/0293919 A1)
Designed for injection molding from project outset including draft angles, parting lines, and overmolding
Four wrist-neutral grip configurations in a single ambidextrous handle
Informed by direct observation and user testing with working mechanics
Context:
Electric and pneumatic ratchets have changed little in their fundamental form: a linear handle with a fixed trigger position that accommodates only one grip. For mechanics working in cramped engine bays and on vehicle undercarriages, that rigidity translates directly into wrist deviation, forced arm positions, and cumulative strain. Carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by repeated compression of the median nerve through sustained wrist flexion, is among the most common outcomes. This project started from a straightforward ergonomic argument: if the work environment can't change shape, the tool should.
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Role:
The brief was open ended to choose any occupation, find a safety hazard, and design a solution. I chose mechanics without hesitation. Many people close to me work in the trade, and I had watched firsthand how physically demanding the work is. I completed the initial phase as part of my graduate industrial design coursework at Jefferson University, conducting field observation at Pinelands Auto Repair, developing the ergonomic criteria, and iterating through clay prototyping with mechanics. Following the course, I independently finalized the CAD, produced all renderings, and authored the utility patent application, which is currently patent pending.
Concept: Bend the tool, not the wrist
Adjustable angle prototype
Constraints:
The central constraint was ergonomic. The design had to achieve a neutral, undeviated wrist position across both documented reach scenarios, which meant the tool itself needed to be the thing that adapted rather than the mechanic's body. From there, the constraints compounded. The form had to fit existing engine bay clearances, function ambidextrously, and include a dual button pivot lock that prevented accidental release under load. Committing to injection molding early meant draft angles, parting lines, and a two-shot overmold were worked into the design as it developed, not retrofitted at the end.
Because the grip dictated the overall form, I explored concepts directly in clay rather than sketches.
Process:
The process opened with a clear research question of "what is a mechanic's wrist actually doing, and what should it be doing instead?" Because the grip dictated the overall form, I explored concepts directly in clay rather than sketches. I worked through multiple rounds with mechanics holding models in both positions, adjusting contour and finger placement until the grip reliably produced a neutral wrist angle.
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Alongside the form, I developed a color and surface language intended to act as a natural signifier, guiding users toward the correct grip positions through visual cues rather than instruction. The pivot mechanism was prototyped and tested in parallel, with the dual button release configuration selected because it prevented accidental disengagement without making intentional adjustment cumbersome.
Results:
The RatchAdapt is a provisionally patented ergonomic ratchet with four wrist-neutral grip positions, an adjustable pivot mechanism, and a complete injection molding specification. Competitive research found no existing product on the market that substantively addresses wrist deviation, validating the gap this design fills. The concept was developed beyond the initial design into a full Milwaukee licensing pitch exploring a broader Adapt Series product line. Higher fidelity prototypes are the next planned phase of development.
Website designed by Jenny Hegelein
© 2025 by JenHeg.com. Built on Wix Studio
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New Jersey Based
About
Contact
New Jersey Based
Website designed by Jenny Hegelein
© 2025 by JenHeg.com. Built on Wix Studio