A. Appel

FlipGrip

Ergonomic mechanical grip assembly for caulking tool.

Designed March 2023 at Brunel University London.

Module: Design Process (Year 2).

FlipGrip was a second-year project developed from a collaborative brief with a UK boat manufacturer.

The brief asked us to help prevent repetitive strain injury among factory workers. I focused on caulking guns, one of the bigger contributors, specifically the heavy-duty type made for foil-packaged adhesives and sealants rather than plastic tubes.

My response was an adjustable collar-and-brace mechanism workers could reposition mid-task. It retrofits onto existing guns and pairs with a reworked ergonomic trigger handle, easing strain without asking anyone to give up the tools they already know.