About Ryan Kistemaker
I've always had a creative mind and good imagination. Engineering will allow me to use these talents to advance technology and help people have a better life. Focusing in Biomedical Engineering will allow me to use this creativity to come up with new designs or improve upon designs of prosthetics or medical devices to help those in need.
I am very excited to learn how to take an idea and bring it to life. Throughout my life, I have come up with many ideas to solve some everyday problems, for example using solar panels on the sides of a bride to supply energy for a heater that heats the water inside the bridge. The water would be pumped in pipes that go the full length of the bridge. This would allow bridges to remain warm and not freeze reducing car accidents. Getting a degree in mechanical engineering I will learn how to identify possible ways to solve a problem along with the knowledge of materials, time, and feasibility of a project.
The three engineering designs that have had the greatest impact in my opinion are: Computers, this one is very obvious, computers changed the way anything was done, factories changed, food changed, clothes changes, the media changed, and even travel changed. This brings me to the next design. Planes, airplanes completely changed travel in the world they soon made the world interconnected and created new paths for people to interact with each other. Finally the creation I believe changed people's way of life most was the microwave. This appliance became a staple in homes. However, the microwave gives a little too much convenience. Many people have become lazy and stopped cooking full meals and started just using the freezer aisle. The reason I believe this had such a big impact is because it added a whole new avenue for the food industry.
The Clothes Hanger
The image pictured on the left is the first patent for a clothes hanger, it was given to O.A. North. This design does not look like the modern-day hanger but was one of the first steps. The other image is a picture from the patent of the first wire hanger, I could not find the actual patent only this image.
Link to More Information on this PatentGeometric Effects
The triangular shape of the hanger was designed to have a slow decline, this prevents the clothing from coming off the hanger and supports the garment where the shoulders would usually rest. The hanger design has changed over time and so has its hook, the hanger hook can rotate upon its axis. This allows it to move more freely and is a preventative measure so that it does not become unhooked. The hook design itself has changed as well it has been found that the sharper the curve the more grip the hook has. Finally, an addition to the hanger design is a small notch or hook that is used to grip the seams of the clothing and increase friction between the garment and the hanger.
Materials
The hanger is made out of many different materials and some are more specialized for a particular type of clothing. Hangers are primarily made from plastics, metals, or woods. Plastic hangers usually are the cheaper option however they can come in different finishes, the hanger pictured above has a velvet-like finish, this dramatically increases the friction between the clothing and the hanger. The wire hanger is closer to the classic concept, this hanger is also a cheaper option but it a lot more durable and is easier to manufacture. The wooden hanger is the more expensive option these tend to be made out of cedar, cedar is a natural repellant of bugs and pests, these hangers are durable and last very long which is why it is the more expensive option.
Similar Creations
The Clothes Hook Link to More Information on this Patent
The Coat Rack Link to More Information on this Patent
How it is Made
Metal hangers are made from steel rods that start at .25 in. diameter and is then stretched down to the desired gauge, then straightened, cut, and coated in paint. Finally, they are twisted into shape by machines. This information is from M&B Hangers in Leeds Alabama.
Plastic Hangers are made through injection molding or thermal extrusion, then quickly shaped. Hangorize is a hanger brand that sells at Walmart and Amazon it is unclear where their product is produced but it is somewhere in the USA.
This assignment took 5 hours to complete.
The Measuring Cube
Measuring tools are very hard to store and keep organized because there are so many of them and they take up a lot of space. My goal is to design a measuring tool that will have the measurements you need and keep you organized. I would like to design compact measuring cubes. A measuring cube is a cube that has been designed to measure liquids to specified amounts, each face of the cube will have different cutouts that measures baking units, like 1 cup, 1/2 cup, and so on. I will also make a cube for tablespoon and teaspoon measurements. This idea was created to have a compact way to keep all your measuring tools together and easily storable.
My Contact Information: rkistema@uncc.edu