Fleater

 

Services

• Industrial Design

• Brainstorming

• Sketch Development

• 3D Modeling

• Prototyping

• Design for Manufacture

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The Challenge

When our client first approached us, they described a simple but all-too-common problem: starting a fire in a home fireplace often means battling smoke that refuses to rise. Some homeowners had discovered a makeshift solution — grabbing a hair dryer to force an updraft through the chimney flu — but the client saw an opportunity. What if there were a purpose-built device designed specifically to solve this problem?

 

Differentiating the device was critical for better solving user-needs, and supporting future patent protection. We also recommended re-imagining the aesthetics to fit with living room decor. 

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The Solution:

Through rounds of concept sketches, CAD models, and 3D printed prototypes, Fleater emerged with a design that checked all the boxes:

• Aesthetics: A warm, considered form factor that blends into home décor, making it something users wouldn’t mind leaving on display by the fireplace.

• Battery Operated: Because heating a flu requires only short bursts of airflow, the unit can run on a compact, rechargeable battery, freeing it from a cord and making it more convenient than a hair dryer.

• Safety in Use: Airflow is designed to automatically shut off if the device tilts downward, preventing ash from being blown into the room.

• Versitile Ergonomics: The adjustable handle makes it equally comfortable to use from a standing or kneeling position — ergonomics tailored specifically for flu-heating.

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From a homeowner’s workaround to a funding-ready concept, Fleater is poised to turn a niche but real problem into a purpose-built, refined solution that lives beautifully on the hearth.

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