2025-03-01

Ergonomic Brush Tool

Clamp-on ergonomic grip that reduces fatigue and adapts to different brush sizes—without changing painter workflow.

ROLE

Needfinding → ergonomic rigs → CAD → DFM → field trials.

Ergonomics / Product Design / CAD / Mechanical Engineering / PM

Painters spend hours gripping brushes at awkward angles—leading to hand fatigue, wrist strain, and slower work.

Common issues: cramping during long edging sessions, handles that don’t fit different hand sizes, and wrist torque when cutting in.

Snap the grip on the brush → reduced wrist bend while edging → quick swap to another brush with no downtime.

Three tracks: grip geometry; clamp/attachment (snap-fit, sleeve, clamp); materials (rod core + silicone overmold).

Clamp-based attachment compatible with common brush handles; angled grip alignment to neutralize wrist bend.

Printed mold forms and poured silicone grips; tested swap speed across brush sizes and textures for non-slip use with gloves.

Core: lightweight metal rod for rigidity. Grip: silicone elastomer for comfort & solvent resistance. Clamp: injection-molded polymer.

Clamp, rod reinforcement, silicone overmold, fastener/snap. Target cost: $3–$5; retail ~$15–$20.

Injection-molded clamp and grip form; silicone overmolding; modular sizing to reduce SKUs.

No sharp edges or pinch points; solvent-resistant materials for job-site cleaning.

Pro painters, contractors, DIY. Positioning: “Work longer, paint smarter, reduce fatigue.”

GTM: licensing (Sherwin-Williams / Purdy / Wooster), direct-to-pro launch, bundle with premium lines.

Prototypes reduced hand strain in testing; clamp design validated across multiple brush types.

Run fatigue metrics with pros, optimize clamp for faster swaps, tune grip geometry for hand sizes, prepare licensing deck.

Hero render on a real brush, exploded CAD (clamp/grip/rod), sketch studies, prototype photos, BOM snapshot, and licensing sell sheet.