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  Show and Tell: Pocket Grappling Hook

  Posted by Charlotte, communications design - February 16, 2012

  At Speck Design we revel in the process of transforming a concept into a physical product that makes its way into the marketplace.  We also appreciate the design features of products we use on a daily basis.  As part of our weekly show-and-tell blog series, we talk about some of our favorite everyday products, sharing insight into likeable features, how the product stands out compared to similar products, and which improvements could be made to the product from a design, engineering, and user experience stand point.

  I may not be able to swing from buildings with spider-webs or have superhuman strength (although my five-year-old son might disagree with that), but when I’m holding my grappling hook, I’m ready for action – like right out of a scene of “Mission Impossible.”  While I have yet to use my grappling hook that was a gift from my husband, I love that the quality of design is apparent and can demonstrate its usefulness for emergency situations. 

  PRODUCT: Pocket Grappling Hook

  DESCRIPTION: The pocket grappling hook consists of a thin aluminum container and spikes.  The spikes are stored inside the aluminum container and can be accessed by unscrewing the end.  The three hooks can be attached to the body of the hook in equally spaced holes, allowing at least one of them to catch on a desired protruding object.  The hook was originally designed at the request of a desert warfare operator.  He needed a lightweight, reusable grappling hook that could be used to snag trip wires or trigger detonation wires in combat environments.

  LIKEABLE FEATURES: The pocket grappling hook is versatile, easy to carry, use and stow.  Without water or sand to weigh it down for a more effective throwing range, the grappling hook weighs about 5 oz.  The spikes unscrew and are stored in the water resistant container.  Since its introduction, it has become vital for missions for SWAT, EOD, and radiotelephone operators.  Its uses have included everything from capturing lines, tearing down phone lines and repositioning barbed wire to moving suspicious packages, breaking windows, and creating entrances into uncanny situations.
  
  DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS: Because some of its uses require rope, it would be a great addition to its design and use if the hook came with a rope.  Another amazing addition would be if the hook could hold human weight and serve as a life support activity for example when the coastguard rescue crew encounters a rugged, slippery terrain, where latching onto a life vest with a grappling hook would come in handy.  While I see the benefits of using the grappling hook in military environments, I wonder how I might be able to use this grappling hook in my everyday life, aside from swinging from building to building every now and then.