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The Remote Holder - 2

THE PROBLEM:  The client has limited use of one arm only and wanted to be able to open her apartment door with her remote controller while she was in bed. The remote controller could not be simply placed on the bed, as it would easily slide out of reach.

THE SOLUTION:  There should be a holder for the remote controller attached to the top bedcover from which the remote can be easily removed for use during the daytime. The holder should also be easy to install and remove and be able to withstand frequent dropping as it would be installed and removed by many different helpers. Also, the holder should be able to fasten to many different materials easily and reliably, without damaging them. The design selected was a piece of ¾ inch plywood to which is attached short ribs of oak and a short loop of leather belt. This should withstand considerable abuse. The remote is inserted into the loop. The fastening arrangement chosen was to use magnets. Two rare earth magnets are inset in the plywood, and a piece of sheet steel is placed under the top bedcover. The holder becomes magnetically clamped to the top bedcover. The magnets are at one end of the holder and the opposite end of the holder is lifted. This arrangement provides a long lever arm that enables the magnetic force to be overcome with light finger pressure. The holder is permanently connected to the sheet of steel with a cord about two feet long so that the two parts do not get separated and lost. The cord is long enough to go round the edge of the bedcovers. The photo shows the holder clamped to a thick towel that is draped over the back of a chair. Note: we have found that when making a holder for a any remote that it is very helpful to make a dummy remote of wood or MDF or similar. This can be dropped, scraped, scratched, and bumped while it is being used to get the shape and size of the holder correct. Whereas the remote itself suffers no damage and the client can continue to use it.

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