Tanager

A hands-free suitcase that merges with a wheelchair or scooter to give the user more independence and mobility during their travel.



Can luggage help someone with limited mobility travel more independently?

What: Over 6.8 million Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility. All airlines provide transporters to assist the disabled, but many prefer to travel freely by themselves.

‍
‍

The problem: The current suitcase market is under-saturated with only a few products that accommodate wheelchair users. The current experience does not allow users to travel comfortably independently or safely.

Current Luggage Transportation Strategies

Interviews

We interviewed occupants at our local retirement home who used assisted means of transportation to understand their airport traveling experience.

Diane

“I want to be able to see my suitcase so I hold it in my lap, but it’s heavy and falls a lot.”

Ted

I hook my luggage to the back of my chair and hang a small bag on my arm rest. I would like both in my line of vision.”

Wadleigh

“I bring a gel seat cushion with me on the plane because the seats are uncomfortable.”

Suitcase Opportunities

Lightweight

Take the weight of carrying belongings off of the user.

Security

Reduce risk of pick-pocketing by keeping suitcase in front of user.

Bag Reduction

Reduce number of bags by providing quick access to personal belongings.

Adaptable

A suitcase that is easy to transport from start to end of the journey.

Prototyping

We started out taking a wheelchair and boxes and old suitcases to try to find the best product placement. This helped inspired our other concepts.

Studio Prototype Feedback

We refined our concepts with the recommendations from our classmates and developed a new prototype to test with our target audience.

Strap Attachment

Pivoting Handle

Extended Rotating Handle

Seat Attachment

Retirement Home Prototype Feedback

Through feedback from our friends at the retirement home we discovered they liked the ease of use, orientation and placement of our prototype once they got the hang of it, but it was not initially intuitive.

Ideation

So my partner and I ideated further and decided to use color as a way to indicate correct product placement.

Tanager

A hands-free suitcase that merges with a wheelchair or scooter to give the user more independence and mobility during their travel.

How it works

Snap handle into the orange spring mechanism in the seat cushion to lock in place. Slide the outside pocket.

How it works

The cushion and pocket can be flipped to either the right or the left side depending on the user’s preference.

Push the control button on the handle to unlock.

Rotate and extend the telescoping handle towards the seat cushion.

Snap handle into the orange spring mechanism in the seat cushion to lock in place.

Slide up the outside pocket for convenient access to personal belongings.

Details

When not in use, the retractable strap holds the seat while the spring mechanism holds the handle in place for easy storage.

Details

Tanager has multiple cushion sizes to conform to a variety of seats.

CMF

Tanager comes in a variety of colors so that it is easy to spot wherever it goes.

CMF

Tanager comes in a variety of colors so that it is easy to spot wherever it goes.

TSA Requirements

Tanager meets the required TSA carry-on guidelines so you can keep you bag with you on your flight.

Tanager

Tanager

© Anne McDonald 2022