Customer Requirement
We were recently contacted by the inventor of The Picket Protector, a patent-pending pet safety apparatus designed for use with a vest or harness to prevent animals from slipping through fence or deck pickets. The product is constructed from furniture-grade PVC and is intended to provide a secure and reliable solution for pet containment.
The inventor was seeking to enhance the product by adding a custom neoprene sleeve around the central 6 inches of the pipe, featuring his logo. This Sleeve would serve as a soft cushion between the Picket Protector and the dog’s back, providing additional comfort during use. The customer also conveyed a time-sensitive need, as he had two forthcoming public relations features scheduled for release in national media outlets.
Our Solution
In response to the customer’s time-sensitive requirements, we promptly commenced development of the prototypes. While the sleeve itself is relatively simple in design, the project presented some technical challenges. The PVC component has an outside diameter of only 0.84″, which, due to its small size, makes sewing difficult and demands a highly precise fit for proper functionality.
Accurate placement of the harness attachment points was essential to maintain both performance and consistency. To achieve this level of precision, the fabric was die-cut, ensuring exact alignment of the holes for the harness attachments.
Precise placement of the logo was critical, as it needed to be positioned exactly between the harness attachment openings and the seam allowance. To ensure this level of accuracy, we employed a laser alignment system during the logo heat press process.
We developed five distinct prototype variations for testing, each utilizing different fabric types and closure methods. Based on factors such as cost-effectiveness and end-user ease of installation, we provided our recommendations on the options we believed would offer the greatest value to the customer.
Customer Feedback
After receiving the initial five Prototypes…..“We LOVE the prototypes – they are exactly what we were looking for in order to take our product to the next level.”
After receiving the final Comfort Sleeves….“We received the Comfort Sleeves a couple of days ago and they look FANTASTIC! Thank you for all your hard work in making this a reality for us! We have updated our listings on our website and Etsy and have already started receiving orders for them. Here’s a pic of all the Picket Protector colors we offer in their sleeves – they look incredible!”
At Neoprene Cases, we specialize in custom-fit solutions—if you need a cover for it, we can make it!