Posts Tagged ‘Invention’

If you have or have ever heard of Raynaud’s Syndrome, then you know that it is a condition which causes your hands to be cold and that it can be painful. There is also no cure. The only options that someone with this syndrome has is either surgery or the use of bulky warming devices. That was until now.

When Leslie Rees’ granddaughter was diagnosed with Raynaud’s Syndrome, he decided to have a look into the condition. When he didn’t like what he had found, Leslie created a solution instead. Heatbands are wrist bands that are made specifically for suffers of Raynaud’s Syndrome, although it can be used by anyone who needs an effective way to keep their hands warm. Instead of using an alternative form of heat, the bands make use of the heat within your own body.

What are HeatBands?

HeatBands™ are an innovative new type of handwarmer originally designed for Raynaud’s sufferers, they are very thin, ultra light and unobtrusive they are worn around the wrist to leave the hands and fingers free and warm.

How does it work?

HeatBands™ work by insulating the blood vessels that lie close to the skins surface at the wrist thus preventing heat loss, and by virtue of the products heat reflective core, heat is directed back to the area which has the effect of promoting a better flow of warm blood into the hands and fingers.

What inspired you to create it?

One of my grandaughters Laura Allen had very cold and painful hands and was diagnosed with Raynaud’s disease, she was told by the Doctor there is no cure, just wear gloves. I had previously designed and produced the Mediwrap range of products for patient thermo regulation for the emergency services and for in hospital use during surgical procedures, so I was very interested to research the condition and the products available. I was surprised to find other then invasive surgery and dangerous drugs, only bulky chemical handwarmers and a range of unsightly cumbersome items most requiring some form of activation or warming procedure. My plan was to design a no drug no chemical no activation product that would bring warmth and relief to users without any risk or side effects, I believe I have achieved that with HeatBands™.

What separates you from the competition?

HeatBands™ is the only product that offers a true natural remedy because it does not introduce heat it better utilises the body’s own heat.

How have your HeatBands evolved since your business was first started in 2005?

We have improved the product and the fastening and have seen HeatBands™ evolve from a medical product into a much wider and more versatile product as it has entered the sports market, the sponsorship and promotional market and the commercial market as HeatBands™ are now used by staff of some major food preperation companies and many outdoor workers.

Do you have any goals that you hope to reach over the next few years?

We plan to create a world-wide distribution network, introduce new products based upon the HeatBands™ technology. Make people more aware of safer more natural remedies for many ailments, and to make those remedies more readily available.

What are some of the lessons that you have learned from creating, launching, and running your business?

We have learnt many lessons, one is that generally a contract cannot be relied upon especially if you are a small company with little resources, the major companies and organisations will take advantage of your weekness. Keep your overheads as low as possible. Use your gut instincts. If it seems to good to be true it usually is.

What has been the hardest part of balancing time for your business and time for your personal life?

Your private and business life seems to role into one when you are very enthusiastic about what you are doing, our business is very rewarding as we know our products are bringing relief to many people and their comments and testimonials encourage us, we involve our family and our friends conversationaly in what we are doing most of the time.

What advice would you give fellow entrepreneurs hoping to launch their own business now?

You are never too young or too old. There is no wrong or right time if you wait until the time is right you will be too late. Don’t trust Banks. Get all the free help you can from central and local government run organisations.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

WMBFNews:

“People constantly complained about the hospital gown,” said Harley Richards, who came up with what he calls the EZ-Gown, a robe he patented which doesn’t have ties, instead uses plastic snaps that close the gown for privacy.

The idea was born out of frustration from patients and people who like him have worked in the medical field for decades.

“They were always having their back side showing,” Richards said referring to patients, whom he said felt they needed more privacy from their gowns.

It took Richards almost four years to get a patent. Then he had to find a place to make his gowns.

A good fit for USNER Products, Inc, said Jim Slonecki, the owner of a small sewing factory in North Charleston.

“It fits our production perfectly and it’s incredibly expandable,” Slonecki said.

Richards said his creation is picking up steam here in the Lowcountry, but he is hoping it gets some national attention.

“You take five or six hospitals that would pick up on a deal and go with it. We could probably employ 16, maybe 20 people,” Richards said.

“If you’re making 50,000 [gowns] you can be much more cost effective and you’ll be much more productive so you can sell it at a much more competitive price,” said Slonecki, who feels like being competitive is key in an industry barely surviving because most of it has gone overseas.

Aside from tapping into private hospitals, Slonecki and Richards goal is to snatch up a government contract. They’ve been working with politicians at the federal level with the hope they can help land a major deal.

Photo by WMBFNews.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.

The moment you open your car door on a hot summer day, it comes as no surprise that the interior can be extremely hot. Especially if you’ve had the misfortune of touching the metal part of the seatbelt while trying to buckle yourself in.

Deborah Lowe was putting her baby girl in the car when the metal piece of the seatbelt touched, and slightly burned, her daughters leg. From that moment Deb decided there had to be a way to keep it from happening again. In 2002 she sewed up her first car seat cooling pad. From there she started to make cooler pads for friends and family. Word spread and the orders started to roll in. In 2003 BabyBeeCool was born.

Tell us a little about your car seat cooler pad and what it does.

The main purpose of The BABYBEECOOL Car Seat Cooler is to COOL a car seat for a infant/child or adult while out of the car. The temp inside of a parked vehicle can soar up to 185 degrees F in as little as 15 mins parked in the sun. Look under FAQs on my web “HOT Faqs”.

What inspired it?

The inspiration came from my own child not being able to stay cool in her car seat and a buckle just barely touching her inner leg and turning it red. I’ve since heard from many parents that this has happened to them and their child.

What are the other products sold by your business, BabyBeeCool?

BABYBEECOOL sells window shades to help prevent the sun from coming in and it helps keep the car a little cooler too. We sell the LOGO Stuffed Gracie the Bee plus blankets and bibs.

What colors does the cooler pad come in?

The Original comes in All American Denim and The Universal comes in a beige color.

Do you have any plans to add more color options?

We may, but we found that Parents like the denim and neutral color since it matches most car seats. (QVC was the one that suggested the BEIGE, however we never went on QVC. We were in the AZ Republic, Phx., AZ with Marilyn Montrose from QVC in 2007).

How long will it keep the seat cool for?

Approx. 10 hours in 115 degree shut up. See The Toy Man report [on my website].

How far has your car seat cooler pad come since you made the first one in 2002?

From an idea to being in stores and sold internaional, also Made In China. I use to make them at my kitchen table!!! then here in The USA and finally China.

In what ways has it changed?

We came out with the Universal Cooler Pad in the Spring of 2008 which covers an infant or adults car seat. Prior to that we only had the “Original BABYBEECOOL Car Seat Cooler”.

What are your goals do you hope to reach over the next year?

To maintain through this economy and continue to grow.

What are your long term goals?

To sell BABYBEECOOL, any offers are welcome.

What are some of the lessons you have learned from your business?

I started from the ground up, not knowing how to do one thing in this industry. It is very competitive. People can steal your idea and even if you have a patent change it up 30% and redesign your product. I attend tradeshows where you will see people come out with a very great product only to come back the next year to see them ripped off and someone else with somehing similar. However, this has been a great journey for me and I have learned so much about small businesses, met so many great people, learned to be on TV without being nervous(Ha!), and to just enjoy what I have and take the next day as it comes.

Do you have any advice that you would like to offer other inventors that are hoping to launch a business out of their invention?

If I would have read “Moms Inventors Handbook”, prior to my business starting I could have saved myself the journey of having to dig and look for all the anwers. That book is worth every penny. I think the auther of that book came out with a product in 2005 and her book, my business started in 2002.

I think all inventors should believe in their products, do the research and just don’t give up but be real and accept advice from a mentor, if possible. I have a wonderful mentor that has helped me every step of the way. Elaine Collins Shaw, she lives in Scottsdale, AZ. She is a friend but will tell me just like it is. Listen to the truth and grow. Life is a journey.

From Business Opportunities Weblog.