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The Toepener: Business Students Getting Into the Product Development Game

By Rain Noe - April 11, 2011

in Object Culture | Design Business

A group of University of Minnesota students have banded together "with the intent of developing simple solutions for everyday problems." Sounds like an ID program, no? In actuality they're business management students, not designers, who have nevertheless come up with their first product: The Toepener.

The students have formed a limited liability company, Forge LLC, and launched the Toepener earlier this year. I initially thought the simple device was designed for the disabled, but in fact it's simply to feed into the orangutuan-like behavior we engage in in filthy public restrooms, where we use our feet for everything rather than our hands.

"Commercials" for the device are a bit silly and offensively equate Bruce Lee with ninjas, but it gives you the idea:

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Andrew

11 years ago

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Looks like their website has moved.

Find them at www.thetoepener.com
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Ninja

13 years ago

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Ninja's can't make use of Bruce Lee's philosophies without being offensive?
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Kwame

13 years ago

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So, like everyone else has said; It's a product that exists, is inherenetly flawed and has been done better. So how did this get on Core? Is it because they're business students? Because if that all it takes I should go print up some new business cards...
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Raf

13 years ago

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Yeah, nothing new about it. There are several very similar products on the market already.

If they have done a simpleresearch on Google, for door+foot+handle, they would know it.

I also agree with Duane. For a bathroom, a push door that opens outwards is the best solution, specially in emergency situations.
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Tim

13 years ago

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Or just don't have a door? That way you are bypassing any surface contact in an environment that requires cleanliness
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Brian

13 years ago

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Maybe they should have done a little more research first on products in this area. All this product is, is a worse version of a product that has been on the market for years. The StepNpull is one currently available and has a more user friendly design to it. However I see a major issue with all these products. They market them for bathrooms, but most of the time the dirtiest bathrooms where they would be useful are also the highest trafficked bathrooms. So somebody is going to walk up close to the door to use their foot, look down, if somebody comes in they will be smashed in the head...I would rather take my risk with the germs.
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Duane Brown

13 years ago

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So question.. Why don't you just have the door push outwards!!!!
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word

13 years ago

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when showing a ninja trying to exit a bathroom without soiling his hands on a dirty door handle, said ninja should not place his hands on the floor while doing a cartwheel
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Tree

13 years ago

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Haven't these horribly awkward, frustrating things been around for years already?
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Linda

13 years ago

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Coming to a cheesy infomercial near you!
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Mike

13 years ago

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Great idea. Flaw in implementation.
Too easy for drunk people to get their foot, shoe, sandal, pants caught on it: annoying and trip/fall risk. Even a remote risk (read as liability) for someone to impale themselves on it if they fall into it. Close the hook into a loop; you can get cut, but not impaled. Make sure it's big enough to allow toes to exert enough force, yet no so big a foot can get caught.
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