Tag Archives: dexterity problems

Top Four Packaging Openers and Safety Cutters

Top Packaging Openers and Safety Cutters

 

Using a purpose made safety cutter makes opening those eagerly awaited mail order products so much quicker and safer! We’re buying more online than ever before and with online shopping comes box after box of not always well-wrapped goodies. Getting packages open is not easy at the best of times and it can be highly problematic if you have a disability which effects your limbs, grip, fine motor skills or coordination. Here we’re looking at some gadgets designed to make ripping open boxes and getting to your goodies easier than ever before, with an eye on their suitability for disabled people.

Many of the package openers on the market are utility tools which can be used around the home in other ways. Many cutters double up as kitchen tools, can be used for cutting ties off clothes, couponing, arts and crafts and much more.

iSlice Safety Cutter

Image shows the elongated, oval shaped safety slicer in a soft green colourThe iSlice Safety Cutter features a ceramic blade, which is quick, easy and safe to use. The device is a complete replacement for scissors and traditional safety knives. It can be used for removing film, shrink wrap or difficult moulded plastic packaging. It is also magnetised and has a built-in keyring hole making it portable and easy to use on the go.

 

Westcott Box Opener

Westcott Mini Ceramic Safety Blade Box Opener - GreenOnce again featuring a ceramic blade, this Westcott Utility Cutter benefits from a durable and robust design. Ceramic lasts up to 10 times longer than stainless steel so it makes for a long-lasting blade. The compact size of this box opener makes it a popular choice and the fixed blade and finger loop help when guiding and controlling the blade.

 

Zibra Open-It!

Image shows the red-coloured Zibra Open-it on a white backgroundSold as a product which relieves the stress of “wrap rage”, the Zibra Open-It is a strong utility cutter. It can slice through hard packaging as well as paper and plastic, easily breaking through twist ties and zip ties. It has additional functionality allowing it to pop bottle caps and unscrew bottle caps.

 

 

 

 

 

Nimble: The One-Finger Package Opener – Our Top Pick!

Yellow thimble shaped rubber cutting tool

Nimble Safety Cutter

Topping our list of package openers is the Nimble. This smart and unique device stands out because of its accessible design. Using just a single finger, this device makes it easy for people with a range of disabilities to easily cut and slice as required. A single finger swipe can cut open a box, food packaging or any other item, without any risk of injury. The safe blade profile offers no risk of injury and it the one-finger operation design (patent pending) means even if you have limited hand mobility, you should be able to properly use and benefit from the Nimble.

The Nimble package opener is suitable for people with joint paint, little hand strength, tremors and reduced hand-eye coordination, as well as in many other situations. The device was developed and tested by over 150 people, some with disabilities, some without and the result is this effective and well-designed cutter for many different items in the home.

Safe on the skin

A unique benefit of the Nimble is the small blade means it is very difficult to hurt yourself. It is so small that the ridges of your skin ridges actually move out of the way and it doesn’t cut you. I know it sounds incredible but it is probably the safest cutter on the market today. This makes it particularly useful for anyone with dexterity problems. The bright yellow colour is also a boon for those with a visual impairment.

 

 

You can see exactly how the Nimble works in this useful video:

Order your nimble directly from Trabasack.com here

 

 

 

Ingenious Ideas: Strawberi – The Smart Straw Holder

Ingenious Ideas: Strawberis


After discussing both the DUO and the Bridgit recently, both products from the Such and Such Design Company, we thought we’d also include their Strawberi into our directory. All three products were introduced at the New Product Showcase at Naidex National 2012 in May and all three have major benefits for a range of different users. For now, let’s take a closer look at the Strawberi – smart straw holder.

Drink Hands Free

The Strawberi smart straw holder attaches your drinking straw safely to the side of your drinking vessel, allowing you to enjoy your drink without having to worry about spills or splashes. In fact, you can drink completely hands free. It’s perfect for anybody who perhaps lives with tremors or unexpected muscle spasms as you don’t need to steady your glass or cup with your hand. What’s more, for young children (aged three and over) who often decide that they’ll only drink from a straw, it removes some of the mess and stress from cleaning up all those spilt drinks as they struggle to keep the straw in the correct position.


Also, if you ever get annoyed with straws being popped out of your fizzy drinks because of all the bubbles, you need no longer worry. Strawberi is simple clip which holds the straw securely so you can enjoy your favourite fizzy drink. A very simple idea which you can reuse and are on sale in packs of five or ten. Once you’ve started using one, the whole family will want to get involved and as a dishwasher safe product it’s extremely easy to use and reuse again and again.

There are a multitude of accessible drinking products on the market all designed to ensure there is something out there to suit your specific needs and whilst other products may be more appealing to some users, we’re sure the Strawberi will be the perfect for others and they’re also great value. To buy, click in the box below: