DIGEST Inventing for Our Animal Friends
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InventorsJULY 2018 Volume 34 Issue 07 DIGEST Pet Projects Inventing for Our Animal Friends On the StartupBus LAUNCHING A COMPANY, PRODUCT, CRAFTING A PITCH Scouting and Innovation AFTER 100 YEARS, INVENTING REMAINS A PRIMARY MISSION $5.95 FULTON, MO MO FULTON, FULTON, PERMIT 38 38 PERMIT PERMIT US POSTAGE PAID PAID POSTAGE POSTAGE US US PRSRT STANDARD STANDARD PRSRT PRSRT EDITOR’S NOTE Inventors DIGEST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF REID CREAGER ART DIRECTOR CARRIE BOYD Nothing Can Slow CONTRIBUTORS ELIZABETH BREEDLOVE Our Love of Pets LOUIS CARBONNEAU DON DEBELAK It’s been 10 years since the Great Recession, a financial crisis so severe JACK LANDER that former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke called it the worst JEREMY LOSAW in global history. This economic calamity— which officially spanned GENE QUINN December 2007 to June 2009—triggered a marked decrease in spending JOHN G. RAU on seemingly everything. EDIE TOLCHIN But the recession wasn’t even a speed bump for the ongoing accelera- tion in pet spending. According to the American Pet Products Association, GRAPHIC DESIGNER JORGE ZEGARRA Americans have spent more on their pets in every year since 1994. That streak may continue unabated for a while. INVENTORS DIGEST LLC Earlier this year, online lender OppLoans surveyed more than 1,000 pet owners throughout the United States and asked them how much they spend PUBLISHER on their pets every month. The company arrived at a figure of $126.19— LOUIS FOREMAN and broke down its data to show that Americans spend $139.80 a month on dogs; $92.98 on cats; $116.63 on reptiles or turtles; $113.89 on birds; $65 VICE PRESIDENT, on rabbits, and $62.53 on fish. One possible surprise is that the monthly INTERACTIVE AND WEB amount spent on small mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters and VINCENT AMMIRATO gerbils—$251.82—tops the combined amount spent on dogs and cats. Perhaps most important, the survey said people ages 18-24 outspend all FINANCIAL CONTROLLER DEBBIE MUENCH other age groups on their pets with a monthly average of $173.67, followed by ages 25-34 at $141.50. SUBSCRIPTIONS Pet spending in that demographic sweet spot buttresses the notion that LOURDES RODRIGUEZ our love affair with pets is a lifetime constant. Our need for that kind of companionship is not just something for the single, divorced, widowed © 2018 Inventors Digest, LLC. All rights reserved. Inventors or elderly. It’s the kind of need that fosters personal growth and helps Digest, LLC is a North Carolina limited liability company and is the publisher of Inventors Digest magazine. INVENTORS strengthen families. DIGEST and INVENTORS’ DIGEST are trademarks of Inven- You may have heard or read about pets’ effects on our moods. One last tors Digest, LLC. Reproduction or distribution of any materi- statistic for you: According to a recent survey by the Human-Animal Bond als obtained in this publication without written permission is Research Institute, 74 percent of pet owners said having a pet improved expressly prohibited. The views, claims and opinions expressed their mental health. That’s a pretty good buffer or antidote if you’re prone in article and advertisements herein are not necessarily those of Inventors Digest, LLC, its employees, agents or directors. This to personal Great Depressions. publication and any references to products or services are So an Inventors Digest theme involving inventions for pets was a provided “as is” without any expressed or implied warranty no-brainer. Anchored by the hunt-and-feed innovation of Dr. Liz Bales, or term of any kind. While effort is made to ensure accuracy who has 18 years’ experience as a veterinarian specializing in cats, it was in the content of the information presented herein, Inventors Digest, LLC is not responsible for any errors, misprints or mis- fun to compile some of the latest and most useful creations designed to help information. Any legal information contained herein is not to maximize the owner/pet experience. Or, given the dominant role that pets be construed as legal advice and is provided for entertainment play in so many of our lives, maybe we should say the pet/owner experience! or educational purposes only. Interested parties and inventors seeking legal advice should consult a lawyer. —Reid Ad rates, subscriptions & editorial content: ([email protected]) 520 Elliot Street Charlotte, NC 28202 [email protected] www.InventorsDigest.com [email protected] JULY 2018 INVENTORS DIGEST 3 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE YOU BY THE INNOVATION BROUGHT TO Our strong patent system has kept America the leader in innovation for over 200 years. Efforts to weaken the system will undermine our inventors who rely on patents to protect their intellectual property and fund their research and development. Weaker patents means fewer ideas brought to market, fewer jobs and a weaker economy. We can’t maintain our global competitive edge by detouring American innovation. TAKE ACTION AT SAVETHEINVENTOR.COM ContentsJuly 2018 Volume 34 Issue 7 Features 16 Inventing for Pets Latest Innovations for Dogs, Cats and Others; Youth Inventions; Using Instagram Influencers 33 Young Ideas 12 NICEE Event for Inventors Inventor Spotlights 12 The Buddy Method 30 Duo’s Glass a Hit Novelty Item InventorsJULY 2018 Volume 34 Issue 07 DIGEST 14 Beat of a Different Drum A Drummer’s Fingertip System Pet Projects Departments Inventing for Our Animal Friends On the StartupBus LAUNCHING A COMPANY, PRODUCT, CRAFTING A PITCH 6 Bright Ideas Scouting and Innovation AFTER 100 YEARS, INVENTING REMAINS A PRIMARY MISSION Spotlight on Innovation $5.95 FULTON, MO MO FULTON, FULTON, PERMIT 38 38 PERMIT PERMIT US POSTAGE PAID PAID POSTAGE POSTAGE US US PRSRT STANDARD PRSRT PRSRT STANDARD PRSRT 8 Time Tested INV-vol 34-07-July-2018Final.indd 1 6/18/18 11:10 AM The First Wireless TV Remote ON THE COVER Dr. Liz Bales, Avocado, 10 Lander Zone and the Doc and Phoebe Indoor Hunting Feeder; When Deals Go Sour photo by David Lawrence 33 26 Prototyping The StartupBus Ride, Part 1 30 Rau’s Research 8 Scouting’s Inventing History 34 IP Market Iancu: Help Is On the Way 38 Patent Pending Key Question: Will it Sell? 40 Eye on Washington Facebook’s Latest Issue is Counterfeit Goods; Is SCOTUS Willfully Killing Patent System? 46 Inventiveness Focus on the Fun and Fascinating JULY 2018 INVENTORS DIGEST 5 Parásole 3D RECOVERY SOCKS wear.parasolesocks.com The socks combine the comfort and freedom of a compression sock with a supportive insole, and traction and protection of an outsole. Parásoles stretch to help adapt the natural curves of your feet to hard, flat ground. They feature arch support, and keep feet cool and ventilated via a breathable mesh with sweat-wick- ing yarns. They also have antimicrobial protection to help prevent odor and can be wiped clean instead of washing them. The socks have a future retail price of $49. Shipping for crowdfunding backers is to begin in August. HeroClip HYBRID GEAR CLIP WITH BUILT-IN HOOK myheroclip.com HeroClip is designed to free your hands. Its largest version holds up to 60 lbs., rotates 360 degrees, folds at two joints for maxi- mum versatility and has a rubber tip for grip. When not in use, the hook folds securely on to the clip. Ideal for campers, the product hangs just about anywhere and is available in three sizes. All weigh 2 oz. or less; the small and mini versions hold up to 50 lbs. and 40 lbs., respectively. Accessories include Hero Socks, an insect-repelling bandana, and Luci Lantern. HeroClip sells for $19.95 on its website, with shipping to crowdfunding backers set for August. 6 INVENTORS DIGEST INVENTORSDIGEST.COM GingerLead DOG SUPPORT, REHABILITATION HARNESS gingerlead.com GingerLead is an integrated leash attached to a collar for control of younger, more active dogs; those recover- ing from surgery; or it can be used as a chest harness for older or disabled dogs with limited mobility or balance that require additional support. It is especially useful in helping dogs up and down stairs or in and out of vehicles. The leash is adjustable for height. The support pad combines two types of padding—one for cushion, the other to prevent the sling from bunching up. The leash can be detached for machine washing, or if your dog does not require the leash. Prices range from $35.95 to $65.95, depending on the size of the dog. “Scientists may have sophisticated laboratories, but never forget ‘Eureka!’ was inspired in a bathtub.” —TOBA BETA, AUTHOR AND POET ElectroSpit MOBILE TALKBOX kickstarter.com This lightweight, portable device gives you new ways of producing melodic and musical sound while forming words, using ElectroSpit’s ESX-1 Mobile Talkbox App. It updates the talkbox, an effects system made up of an instrument amplifier and tube used by musicians in combination with their mouth to shape and alter the frequency of sound. The iOS, Android-compatible app detects any song’s key and plays in perfect pitch. It connects your keyboard through Bluetooth to access the best talkbox sounds and is compatible with any synthesizer or guitar. ElectroSpit’s future retail price will be $400, with shipping set for December. JULY 2018 INVENTORS DIGEST 7 TIME TESTED He Triggered ‘TV Miracles’ EUGENE POLLEY’S WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL IS A MODERN-ERA INSTITUTION BY REID CREAGER T WAS STILL FRESH AND WONDROUS, this techno- Not an easy path logical landmark of a giant electronic box full of In today’s world, with hundreds of cable channels Itubes that displayed moving images for entertain- and our escalating reliance on push-button conve- ing and informing the world.