There was plenty of hustle and bustle on the show floor of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center during the second day of the Inventions and New Products Expo (INPEX). Along with all the exhibitors and attendees, he was filming “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and companies like Hasbro, Irwin Tools and Tupperware were searching for ideas to add to their product lines. Of course, the main attraction, and the reason for the event itself, were the inventions. And I got to see a lot more today. Here’s a sample:
The Traybilizer(TM) is an invention designed to secure fast food restaurant drink holders in a vehicle. A possible godsend for minivan play, one person places the Traybilizer on a floor mat and places cup holders inside, locking them in place and preventing spillage.
A human-sized “fighting partner,” the Bully(TM) stands six feet tall and can hook, jab, and kick. The inventor initially developed the Bully to help teach self-defense to women, but says it has other training uses as well.
For the people behind the athletes, the coaches, there’s the CoachGuard(TM). After watching football coaches on TV always hold cards over their mouths, the inventor devised a more convenient solution: a mouth guard that plugs into an earpiece to keep plays secret.
Workers looking for a more efficient tool can get it with the ScrewMaster(TM), which claims to double or quadruple the speed at which a person can tighten or loosen a screw or nut, without additional torque. It could be a carpenter’s or a handyman’s dream.
A slightly more “out of the box” invention is Date Rings. Designed to keep things fun and relaxed, these color-coded rings can be used as unspoken communication tools for first-time daters or longtime partners. Oh the possibilities…
Another cool idea with a clever name is For Your Ears Only. The idea: bandless ear muffs. These earmuffs not only won’t mess up a person’s hair, but they also come in colors to match different hair tones, so you can’t even tell when someone has them on.
You know how home gym equipment can take up a lot of space, usually with minimal use? While the Invisible Home Gym offers a convenient solution. This invention is a home gym that transforms into a recliner. A person can exercise one minute and relax the next.
A wife invented the RockSock(TM) for her husband who works in construction and now he and his coworkers wear them all the time. This sock not only keeps debris out, but also helps keep socks up and shoes tied.
One invention that can be used in conjunction with the RockSock is the Stink-eez®, an odor and sweat-eliminating insert in a shoe. This product is currently sold in skate shops, and the inventor claims that when used correctly, Stink-eez can work for up to a year.
Another invention that means everyday inventors are just as innovative in naming their products as they are in inventing them is The Sqooshi. This patented invention is a loofah that dispenses body wash, saving space in the shower and making morning cleanup a little more convenient.
An ideal invention for the summer, when both sunshine and storms abound, the windproof umbrella is an umbrella that closes automatically when strong winds blow. This device prevents the parasol from flying over or tipping over and damaging other garden furniture.
And of course, people love to invent for their pets. On vacation or away for the day? The “Worry Free” Pet Feeder provides pets with food and water for up to a week. This invention could also prevent food and water from becoming contaminated while sitting around all day.
