The Dalas™ Rod - Why Reinvent The Wheel? - A Blue Print For Development

[Doc]

This was a Confidential Memo that I wrote to make a thorough examination of what the history of metal detector support devices have been, and what the positives and negatives of each design were.

This was, in essence, my blue print to design a new device that addressed all the shortcomings of the predecessors of Metal Detector support devices.  It is marked Confidential because until now the public has never seen this document.  This is my process when developing a new product and determining whether or not there is a need, and whether I can "build a better mousetrap" so to speak.  -Doc

CONFIDENTIAL FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

Common Metal Detector Support Devices, what they attempt to do.

• Claim to redirect weight to alleviate stress on arms, shoulders and neck.
• They attempt to do this by redirecting the weight to a larger area of the body, usually the waist.

Why Common Metal Detector Support Devices fall short of their intended purpose.

• Some units are too bulky and constricting.
• Some systems attempt to mitigate the weight by directly transferring the weight to your waist without re-directing the weight.  This means you have to wear a tight belt to keep your pants up.
• You have to select a fixed size with no ability to adjust the length if it is not perfect.
• Some adjustable systems do not give you enough of an adjustment and are too short to function properly.
• Some adjustable systems pull apart even when they are adjusted to the longest adjustment.
• Some systems require an adjustment to switch for right hand to left hand use, which is not secure and tends to come apart when used.
• Most systems are designed to attach to the “D” ring of your harness or are dependent on being fixed to the harness “D” ring in some way.  If you are unable to adjust the device to the perfect length, the system pulls on the “D” ring.  This then transfers the weight to your shoulder instead of your waist.  This completely defeats the purpose of the proposed advantage of the system which is to transfer weight.
• Some “Over the Shoulder” devices are so large, heavy and cumbersome, most users find them unusable.  In addition to which the “Over the Shoulder” device puts the bent support strut with “D” ring over your shoulder and right next to the side of your face.  Not only is this distracting, but it could cause serious injury and a severe laceration if you were to fall and your face landed on that support strut.
 • Some systems do not come with a fully adjustable bungee cord or any bungee cord at all.

How should the perfect Metal Detector Weight Support Device be Designed?

1.    Unit should be easy to wear. It should be lite weight, minimally intrusive, and not make the user hot.
2.    Unit should truly “REDIRECT” the weight NOT just transfer the weight “DIRECTLY”, so it is unnoticeable and very comfortable.
3.    Unit should be fully adjustable for all size individuals without compromise for a perfect fit.
4.    System should be firmly secured at any joints or areas of adjustment to prevent the unit from coming apart when being used.
5.    System should be easily adjustable for right handed or left handed use, with the adjustment point being totally immune to separating when in use.
6.    Support device should be completely able to move freely even when attached to a harness or “D” ring.  There should be no impediments to unrestricted movement from the point of ORIGIN, where the weight of the bungee with the detector is attached to the “D” ring and where the weight is redirected to an unnoticeable area of the body where the weight redirection is TERMINATED. This design should prohibit the device from ever pulling down on the harness and transferring the weight onto the shoulder, neck, upper arms, or any part of the body other than the weight redirection termination point of the support device.
7.    Support System should not pose a significant risk to the user. System should not be made of metal. They should be free of sharp edges. It should not be necessary to wear the system close to the side of your head.  Direct weight transfer systems using a strait support rod should be avoided.  If the weight is directed straight down. In a fall the force of the fall could drive the rod straight up causing injury to the user.
8.    Support System should come with a fully instantaneous “On the Move” adjustable bungee support rig with multiple ways to adjust your detector to the perfect height.  Bungee should be adjustable at the attachment point of the detector rod and at the shoulder clip and be ambidextrous. Bungee cord should be of superior material, Dacron Polyester UV protected Marine Grade with a 50% stretch.  Either end on the bungee should be able to be attached to the detector.  The bungee cord should be easily detached or reattached with one hand to either the “D” ring of the Weight Support Device, or to the attachment device on the metal detector rod.

The DALAS™ • Detector Air Lift Assist System

Features 1 through 8 listed above!  CHECK! 

[Ethan in Adelaide]

the first post support will get if free? 😁

[Doc]

8 hours ago, Ethan in Adelaide said:

the first post support will get if free? 😁

Ethan, 

I get pre-production samples that I give to selected field testers, who promise me they will give me their honest assessment.  I don't sell junk.

I am very transparent in my efforts to produce new items.  I'm not sure whether you remember the SAGA Swing Assist Guide Arm debacle.  I get the first batch and give them to field testers.  Within two hours of hitting the field I was getting phone calls from my field testers.  "This thing is garbage!  It's falling apart."

Well I didn't keep that a secret from the world, I announced it right here that the SAGA would be going back to the drawing board because it was obviously under-engineered.  This involved me sitting down and analyzing what the issues were.  Once I re-designed it, I actually took it to a machine shop and had them machine the parts I thought were needed out of nylon infused with fiberglass.  I then took it out and used it for two weeks and tweaked the design.

I'm very glad I did because the SAGA™ now has a worldwide reputation as absolutely being revolutionary in terms of making detecting more comfortable and more ergonomically friendly.  It absolutely is not a SWING ARM.  It is a Guide Arm.  It is like a joy stick for your detector.  AND here's the good news, you can use the stick and handle off of your old Minelab Swing arm and just order the pivot joint and accessories which helps shipping costs significantly.  You do have to wrap a but of electrical tape around the end of the Minelab rod to make a snug fit.  A little silicone sealant on the end of the rod, insert it into the Pivot Joint, and you will be done with breaking the Minelab squiggly rod attachments forever.

It does me no good to go into production of 5000 or 10000 units so I can have 5 to 10 thousand customers ticked off at me.

Around 70% of my customers are return customers.  They know if I am selling it, the thing I'm selling works.

Bottom line is I don't give away merchandise for free to get favorable reviews.  I give merchandise to field testers to give me honest feedback.  If it's good that's fantastic.  If it's bad, the world will know that there will be a delay until I make it perfect.

Doc