The combined length of the string and clip is 5 inches so it can reach near to where the shirt is resting, but
have enough tension to hold the head of the shirt open tautly about 5 inches wide. The clip is a clothespin so
that it can be detached by Elsa with a small force by simply pulling slightly back on the shirt when removing
it from the bars. Performance testing (Appendix I: Performance Testing Summary) showed that the string
and lightweight clothespin will not pose a danger to the user if they come into contact with it during the
dressing process.
BOARD & STRAPS
All the components described above are screwed into a slab of particle board, ⅝ inch thick, which is 16
inches wide by 22 inches tall so all components fit nicely within the constraints of the board when in the
storage position. The particle board was chosen as a cheap and light material to make the base of our
device. The lightness of the board was important so it would be easily mounted to the door by one person,
removable and portable to multiple locations since these were Meghan's and Mary's preferences learned
during the client interview (Appendix B: Client Interview Summary).
The board is attached to the wall by a set of two straps of 16 foot length, each of which are long enough to
wrap around a standard size interior door up to 8 feet tall. The use of two straps instead of one grants the
board balance and stability. The straps are attached to the board through a pair of slits at the top and bottom
where they are threaded trough and sewn closed.
The board is fitted on the back with a set of six suction cups which adhere the board to any smooth,
flat surface, such as glass or a finished door. The suction cups provide stability so the DressyBars does
not wobble or rattle against a door during use, which was an issue in performance testing (Appendix I:
Performance Testing Summary). The board, straps and suction cups are shown in Figure 16.
Figure 16: Board, straps and suction cups
Appendix J: Dimensioned Sketch shows a fully dimensioned orthographic sketch of the DressyBars
prototype. Appendix K: Bill of Materials lists all necessary materials for constructing the prototype and
Appendix L: Instructions for Construction gives step-by-step instructions for construction.
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