Handicap Assist Device

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My wife to be has a condition known as CMT.  The condition causes nerve damage in the extremities beginning with the feet and legs and spreading to the hands and arms.  She has very poor grip strength in her hands.  Pumping gas at a self service station is an ordeal to say the least.  I am not always there to help.I made this handle to help her pump gas.  It slips onto the pump handle and she only has to push down on the wooden grip to operate the nozzle.  It is made of 3/8" cold rolled steel.Feel free to copy it if know someone that needs one.  "G"ConductorX - The Volkswright Shophttp://volkswright.blogspot.com/http://bugwerks.blogspot.com/Miller DVI w/Spoolgun - Miller Plasma Cutter
Reply:you know by law any gas station that has more than one attendant on duty is required to assist people with disabilities pump their gas.    If she has a regular station she uses just go and ask for assistance with that...Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Yes, it is state law in California and Louisiana.  Problem is if they don't have two attendants on duty they don't have to provide any help.  The whole idea of self service gas is to eliminate jobs and the liability of having "human" workers.  I have very seldom seen a gas station with more than one person working there.   It is still a hassle and this simple device provides some independence."G"ConductorX - The Volkswright Shophttp://volkswright.blogspot.com/http://bugwerks.blogspot.com/Miller DVI w/Spoolgun - Miller Plasma Cutter
Reply:. . . so now you're always there to help her maintain her self sufficiency.  Excellent!  MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I've never found the pump handles to require a whole lot of tension to operate, and I'm just wondering if the lack of gripping strength affects her ability for evasive maneuvering in the vehicle.  I would be more than a bit worried for my wife's safety if she couldn't grab hold of the wheel and give it a good hard yank to avoid getting clobbered by a carelessly merging tractor-trailer, or some idiot fiddling with their GPS and not paying a bit of attention to the road. I'm not trying to be a jackass, nor suggest that she shouldn't be driving.  Just curious, and wondering what other modifications/gadgets might be helpful in the future.
Reply:good husband!  nice job.
Reply:Just a thought... being made of steel, is there any chance of a spark with the pump handle?
Reply:Pump handles are die-cast zinc or aluminum around hereMiller: 200dx, Bobcat 225, Passport, Powermax 45, Milwaukee: Dry Saw, MagDrill, grinders
Reply:What I do when I come across gas stations where the hold for the trigger is removed is I take my gas cap...and jam it between the knuckle guard and trigger!
Reply:Very nifty tool.
Reply:Originally Posted by mb_welderWhat I do when I come across gas stations where the hold for the trigger is removed is I take my gas cap...and jam it between the knuckle guard and trigger!
Reply:Thanks for the good words.  As to griping the wheel the spokes of the wheel help with that control. Power steering on modern cars is also a huge assist. The idea of the device is to operate the handle not to defeat the trigger. Most gas caps are attached to the vehicle now. Most nozzles have the triggers removed to insure the buyer stays with the car and pays attention to the job at hand.  "G"ConductorX - The Volkswright Shophttp://volkswright.blogspot.com/http://bugwerks.blogspot.com/Miller DVI w/Spoolgun - Miller Plasma Cutter