Almost Six Years In — And Still Building on Purpose

Inventing With HartInnovation at Hart
Written By E. Black

Originally written: 06 January 2020

Materials Testing for Load-Bearing Pet Product Design

By now, we are nearly six years into MyHerculead — and still building.

  • Not because we’re lost.

  • Not because we’re stuck.

  • Because systems that carry risk deserve patience.

We’re now well past 38 physical iterations, and every build exists to answer a real question:

  • How does this behave under load?

  • What happens when tension escalates?

  • Where does human grip fail first?

We’re not designing a leash — we’re designing a walking system. One that must remain stable when dogs move unpredictably, when humans lose balance, and when chaos enters the equation.

Progress right now looks like small refinements:

  • Handle geometry

  • Lead separation behavior

  • Torque resistance

  • Load distribution

Nothing flashy. Everything is foundational.

And that’s exactly where we want to be.

E. Black

E. Black — Inventor & Technical Director

E. Black is a multi-disciplinary inventor and Technical Director at The Hartful Company, specializing in practical, safety-driven product design and lean innovation. With over a decade of hands-on prototyping experience — including 69 iterations of a multiple dog walking lead focused on real-world safety and usability — their work bridges industrial precision with everyday problem-solving.

As webmaster and technical architect for The Hartful Company, E. Black also oversees digital infrastructure, optimization, and systems design, ensuring that every product and platform meets rigorous standards of performance, reliability, and user trust. Their work is guided by one principle: innovation should make life safer, simpler, and better — for humans and animals alike.

https://www.thehartfulcompany.com
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