College engineering student Roy Steinberg created Pinchy, a silent fidget toy designed specifically for people who need help focusing.
A college engineering student’s struggle with ADHD led to the creation of Pinchy, a silent fidget device gaining popularity among focus-seekers.
Roy Steinberg says you all need to pinch yourselves and it’s not for what you think.The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign mechanical engineering graduate has created a fidget toy that’s been headlining the tool market for managing attention.
The invention grew out of Steinberg’s battle with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and his frustration with fidget contraptions that seemed to make more noise or distract him further.
“Old-school fidget toys like clickers and spinners were either too loud or too distracting,” said Steinberg, who started working on Pinchy during his sophomore year of college.
Using skills from his engineering coursework, Steinberg taught himself Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D printing. The development process took nine months and more than 20 prototypes, with Steinberg utilizing the university’s 3D printing facilities including the Grainger Engineering Library’s IDEA Lab and the Siebel Center for Design’s 3D Lab.
The result is a small, ergonomic device featuring a proprietary spring and bearing system that creates what Steinberg describes as a “super satisfying pinching motion.” Unlike typical fidget toys, Pinchy operates silently, allowing users to manage restlessness without disturbing others in classrooms or meetings.
Steinberg now produces and assembles each Pinchy from his Chicago apartment. The product line has expanded to include the original Pinchy, a larger Pinchy XL, and a Pinchy Click version. Customers can purchase them through Etsy, the company’s website, or TikTok Shop @Pinchyfidget.
Fidget toys have continued to increase in popularity since they hit the mainstream in 2017. Studies indicate these tools offer sensory input to help people stay calm and focused, and some experts say tactile input can be calming for people who experience anxiety or stress.
“The repetitive action can be a relaxing process that calms the nervous system, for supporting self-regulation and focus,” psychotherapist Julie Bjelland, who works with mental health, cites research stating.
Even though he’s still trying to make a product while earning his degree, Steinberg has worked to keep building the Pinchy brand while working a full-time job as an IRCM hardware engineer at Northrop Grumman where he helps build systems that protect aircraft from missile threats.
Read more : Materials Drive Competitive Edge in 3D Printing
As more people seek quiet ways to manage their attention challenges, Pinchy is positioning itself as a solution that helps users stay focused without becoming a distraction itself.
