BearGuard

COURSE: SENIOR CAPSTONE

During my first summer in Boulder, Colorado I became accustomed to black bears wondering through our alley most evenings looking for food.

Only after a bear had raided our neighbors trash, eaten poison and died, did I begin to understand the severity of bear’s reliance on human garbage.

I chose to address this issue during my senior capstone. BearGuard is a durable lock which can be attached to existing trash bins. Its intuitive and user-friendly spring lock makes BearGuard accessible to all users.

“Keeping bears out of human food & garbage is the best
way to ensure their survival in the wild.”

— Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Number & location of bear sightings 2009-2019

The following data illustrates the rise in black bears sightings in Boulder, Co during a ten-year time span. In 2014 a bear protection ordinance (ordinance 8161) was implemented in Boulder which required residents West of Broadway to use bear-resistant trash bins.

Looking at the maps, the use of bear-resistant trash bins caused bears to wonder further East into the city where food is more readily accessible.

This behavioral shift is dangerous for both bears and humans, and calls for residents to take individual action to secure their trash.

*Data provided by Valerie Matheson, Senior Wildlife Conservation Coordinator, City of Boulder Planning and Development Services Department

Survey responses

  • “Even the 'bear-resistant' trash bins don't always work. Some of my neighbors have made DIY locks but they aren't strong enough and seem tedious to use.”

    Survey answer

  • “I find that existing locks are time consuming and usually require two hands to use.”

    Survey answer

  • “The bear bins were extremely difficult for the seniors in my house to manage and were frequently left unlocked.”

    Survey answer

Precedent shortcomings

  • Weak materials

    2/5 stars on 5/15/24

    “Cheesy thin bolts not gonna keep a ear out. A bearwould pull those cheesy bolts right out if hungry.”

    -MOTORHEAD

  • Breaks easily

    1/5 star on 10/25/23

    “The plastic around the bolt is too thin and breaks easily. To hold the strap in proper alignment the pieces need o be tight, and the plastic is too thin to allow for the correct tightness.”

    -Daniel

  • Weak point

    1/5 star on 9/26/23

    “Didn’t even have his product more than a couple weeks before first strap broke, two weeks later other strap broke. Both straps broke at same spot at plastic clip.”

    -Joe

How might I design a high strength bear-lock that adapts to existing trash bins and can be used by residents of varying abilities?

Prototyping

  • Study model

    Low-fidelity cardstock model demonstrating the open to lock motion & general size

  • Proof of concept

    Low-fidelity cardboard & PLA model testing placement on the bin & length of the folding arm

  • Working proto

    Mid-fidelity MDF & PLA proto with a compression spring to test the locking method. It worked!

CAD drawings

Fabricating

  • Plasma cutting

    I chose to plasma cut the 11 gauge steel to streamline fabrication. Mild-steel preserves material strength while keeping the lock lightweight & easy to operate. 11 gauge mild-steel (0.1196” thick).

  • TIG welding

    I chose to TIG weld to ensure clean welds & for ease when welding mixed metals. I used mainly tee joints & flange welds.

  • Finishing

    I finished BearGuard with a base primer, matte grey spray paint, & a clear matte top coat. The next iteration will be powder coated.

Product features

  • Durable

    High-strength steel that withstands both force & weather.

  • One-handed use

    The compression spring lock can easily be used one-handed allowing the other hand can hold a trash bag

  • Accessible

    Intuitive spring lock that’s user-friendly to people of all abilities.

  • Adaptable

    Universal attachment to most trash bins in under 30 seconds!

  • Economic

    BearGuard can either be bought in bulk directly by trash services and installed on their bins, or purchased online by individuals

  • Non-obtrusive

    When ‘open’, the trash bin’s lid swings freely allowing trash trucks to pick up the bin without obstrution

  • BearGuard's branding follows the language of industrial products, yet will pop on shelves

  • Trustworthy, protection, durable

  • The color palette tells the story of a durable product that is trustworthy and long lasting. The green ties makes the product pop in stores and online.

Product trifold

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