Chris’s Coin Gun
Designed & built by Lyndsay Nix, Krystal Cook and Raelyn Findley, Special Education Students
When trying to use a vending machine Chris is unable to reach the coin deposit or reach his purchased items while sitting in his wheelchair.
Three Special Education students set out to give Chris more independence. After some brainstorming it was decided to modify a caulk gun. A prototype was created and changes made to the final product to better suit Chris’s needs.
To work the coin gun:
- Chris pulls back the rod on the coin gun,
- drops coins in the top slot of the gun,
- lines up the end of the gun to the coin slot on the vending machine (sticky material on the end of the gun holds gun in place,)
- pumps the coin gun,
- the rod with a washer at the end moves, causing the coins to come out of the gun and fall into the vending machine.
Chris then uses the end of the coin gun to hold the flap of the vending machine open so that he can reach in and grab his purchase.
Chris using the coin gun to make his vending machine purchase.
Chris with the coin gun and his vending machine purchase.
Krystal, Lyndsay and Raelyn working on the coin gun at the AT Lab.