A Packboard to Carry Jerry Cans in Third World Countries.
10 weeks, Winter Quarter, 2018
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Collaboration between Audrey Levy, Grace Budgett, and Leah Bertuccelli
The Jerry Carry
Objective
To create a utility pack in a group of three students.
execution
Students were grouped into three and allowed to choose an occupation or purpose for this utility pack.
Background
Due to water scarcity in Sub-Saharan Africa, people transport water long-distances with the help of 5 gallon jerry cans.
Due to gender inequality, the primary collectors are women in Sub-Saharan Africa. 13.5 million women carry water daily for more than 30 minutes.
When these jerry cans are full, they weight about 40 lbs each and women often have to carry multiple at a time or with a child. On average, children begin carrying water at age 11.
of water and wood gathering is done by women.
90%
40lbs
Methods of carrying:
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Strapped to the head and resting on the back
Strapped to the chest or shoulders and resting on the back
Balanced on the head and held steady with one hand
existing products
incline makes rolling difficult
Hippo Roller
no back support
Water Backpack
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Tips from a pro
Annika, 20, frequently backpacks with 30 or 40 pounds on her back. On a long trip, she hikes up to 15 miles a day.
As a woman, she has trouble finding a balanced weight between her shoulders and hips.
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Annika likes for her neck to have mobility and for her back to be protected.
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She finds backpacks that are more rigid tend to be less comfortable than packs that allow for more movement.
Annika likes the way her pack hugs her hips
I want something that will ease the pain in my back and something my children can use, so they won’t have back pains when they’re my age.
Persona
Dhakiya
35 • Northern Kenya •
mother of 4
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She walks 6 kilometers a
day with a jerry can.
She has made straps out of canvas to
carry the 5 gallon container, but despite
this she has chronic neck and back pain.
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Her children help with chores, taking time away from other activities, such as getting an education.
Opportunity
How might we provide a tool with an extended life cycle to reduce the physical burden of carrying water daily?
Durable
Adjustable
Modular
Prolonged Life Cycle
Lightweight
Round one Prototyping
Handle and cutouts
Single frame
Of the first prototypes, the features we determined would be most beneficial were having a single packboard frame to hold the jerry cans more rigidly with cutouts to adjust the jerry can to where the weight sits most comfortably on the back.
Round Two Prototyping
ergonomic hip and chest straps
Taking from what we learned from the first round of prototypes, we created usable prototypes with different shapes and heights to determine where the weight is best displaced. We added hip straps to take the weight off of the shoulders and added chest straps to more ergonomically fit the female form.
single frame piece
trampoline back
Round three Prototyping
In the final iterations of the packboard we focused on the slots for straps and the trampoline back. As the packboard is a rigid surface, the trampoline back moves and bends with the spine while allowing for air to flow and keeping the user cool. We also added different sized slots for the straps so that if some of the straps provided were to break, they can use whatever they have on hand to secure the jerry can.
final form
The Jerry Carry
attaching jerry can with provided straps
attaching objects with other materials
shoulder and chest straps
The shoulder and chest straps are adjustable to fit the contours of the female body. We wanted to make sure the straps can be adjusted to fit a multitude of chests, so the chest strap can move up and down on the shoulder straps, as well as tighten.
hip strap
Because women's bodies are typically more curvaceous, we have a dual adjustable hip strap to make sure the the straps sit correctly on the hips and carry the most weight comfortably.
exploded view
The Jerry Carry can be customized to suit each user as each element is adjustable or removable. We feel this is important in Third World Countries because when the straps wear down, they can be replaced with whatever the user has on hand.
