Michael Deip is the Inventor of the Emery cat product. I had the pleasure of meeting him and becoming friends with Michael at the Chicago auditions. If you have the pleasure of meeting him the first thing you notice is that Michael is energetic, extremely personable and knowledgeable on all the aspects of inventing. He is able to “GET” your idea quickly and see its potential. That is what makes a great Inventor. I am sure you will more products on the shelf by Michael.

http://www.rogerbrown.net

“GO EDISON NATION!!! GO EMERY CAT!!!!”

Ron~
Maybe I’m just nit-picking here, but the Emery Cat product has nothing to do with Edison Nation…It’s more of a Everyday Edisons program kinda thingy!?

Ed…Everyday Edisons, Edison Nation, Inventors Digest…all the same operation. I’ve heard the employees even call the products from Edison Nation.

Yeah Roger…I know of Michael Deip. He spends a few minutes on here every 6 months. I think he really should spend more time here!

I have no financial interest here but I still want to contribute time to “help the cause” Maybe Michael will spend more time here, many would appreciate!!!

My husband came home and said he saw the coolest thing that he wanted to get the cats for Christmas…and I said "Let me guess, the Emery Cat! " His jaw dropped and then he said, “How on Earth did you guess that?” I replied " It’s an Edison thing…." Well, they must be doing something right if the sold the hubby on the Emery Cat.

Yeah…and did you hear about his next invention? It’s called the Lazy Cat. It is like one of those old gags the handshake buzzer but you put one on each side of the cat. When the cat goes to lay down the fat cat jumps up and runs like hell…no more lazy cat! (Only I would come up with that)

It’s great news when a product gets to market. It’s no secret that animals, mean more to some people than the word pet. So, why is the pet population like cats out of control? please don’t answer that here.
I just came up with a zinger!!!

Lazy Cat! wow what if your cat takes off because it gets spooked by the buzzzzzer, then no one can catch it to take it off! or if the owner leaves home before taking it off.

Maybe people should not own pets if your not going to play and keep them healthy.

Lets make Michael wear it for 48hours and see what happens?

I’m not coming back to this specific forum. Please don’t waste your time replying to this post. As I type each letter I realize I am wasting my own timu43oghrr;2thv’2o4ugr523uh

“Everyday Edisons, Edison Nation, Inventors Digest…all the same operation. I’ve heard the employees even call the products from Edison Nation.”

Well, I actually have to respectfully disagree with that one!

Hey Dan,
We’ve addressed that Emery Cat Web site issue a few weeks ago. The Web site is run by our partner (All Star Marketing) on the project. BTW, All Star brought us the Snuggie, so they definitely know what they’re doing!

The few complaints that were out there were evidently made by people who didn’t understand the offer correctly. I believe it was a buy one, get one offer and they were choosing to buy 2 (rather than 1) – so they got 4! Based on the total number of orders placed, it was a minuscule number that had issues.

We take all complaints very seriously, though, and ran all of them straight to the top at All-Star and they’ve made changes to address them.

This is a great product and we’re all really excited about it!

Sir Ed,
Everyday Edisons is technically a subsidiary of Edison Nation. All of the resources and partnerships seen on the show are just a subset of the resources and partnerships available to all members of Edison Nation.

Saw the commercial finally for Emery Cat! Very cool, I hope its a huge success!

Hello Edition Nation Fans,

It is nice to skip a few weeks of blogging and came back on with more news on the Emery Cat. I have been a regular reader here but mostly behind the scene observing.

As for the Emery Cat, there is not a doubt in my mind that all the sucess thus far should be credited to EE, and EN companies. Had it not been for the great team they got in place, I wouldn’t be albe to see my product to market this soon ESPECIALLY when I didn’t have to pay a penny to get it out to market.

We all are very lucky for the people and the great staff working for us and with us on our invention. I can vouch that there is no company out there willing to take our inventions to market at no costs to us what-so-ever.

I am sure those that are “true” inventors can associate to what I am talking about and can truly appreciate what EN can offer us and help us. The company is only great when they have the best people working for them and I know EN will not sacrifice when it comes to finding the best people to include in their team.

I am here to answer all questions regarding the sucess of Emery Cat and the processes. I am no different then other inventors but was lucky enough to get chosen, and worked with the best company and the only company that exist in wanting to help inventors succeed. It is the good intention of EN which is why they are successful today.

Ron is right they will be a very big company and in my mind they already have. Great work EN and I wanted to take this time to thank you for all the hard work on the Emery Cat among other inventions for other inventors. I wish you all a great New Year, and a “properous” one too.

Michael Diep

Hi Michael, glad to see EmeryCat moving forward. You are a great representative for EN and what they can do for the inspiring Inventor. Keep up the great work. I hope we get a chnace to meet again in the future.

htp://www.rogerbrown.net

Michael, I do have a few questions!

1) How long did it take from showing EC to getting it to production and out to the masses?

2) How many NO’s did you get before you got the EN deal?

2) Have you collected any royalties yet and how long did that take, or is it an ongoing 2-3 year process like most inventions?

Thank you and great job! Much success to you!

Looks like Jordan Pine with Scimark was involved with your DRTV spot, and he’s claiming the Emery Cat as a big hit! Congratulations Michael, I hope you sell millions! I have seen it quite a few times- especially this week-end. As a matter of fact there are quite alot of infomercials running this week-end and I just saw Mister Steamy- a season 3 product a few minutes ago.

I have seen Emery Cat every time I turn on the TV. Way to go!!! I also see it all over the internet too! The ads and product looks great so I sure it is selling well!

Congratrulations Michael,
I’ve been seeing the adds a lot. I hope you make a mint!

Hello Guys,

It is nice to see almost everyone have read this post. Yes, it is true that all of my friends from all over the states have seen the infomercial on all channels that include ESPN, CNBC, MTV, etc. The company is committing huge amount of money for advertising on the Emery Cat and so far it has yields great return on their investment.

This is a great example of what EN and their team can do once they see something great so for all inventors out there, try to put on your best “hat” and come up with something “great” and everybody will win in the process.

Thanks again for all the support and encouragement from every inventor that post a reply here. I greatly apprciated for the support and I wish nothing but the best in 2010 for each any everyone of you.

We got a great forum here and thanks to EN for that. This is a place where we can get our needed support and to continue meeting with other with similar interest. I sure hope to meet everyone here on our next gathering whenever that might be. I am just one of many example of success of what EN can do for us so I thank them each day for the opportunity.

Happy Inventing!!!

Michael Diep

Michael…since your product is so successful you can change up the infomercial and it still will work…I mean get a little “off track” Why don’t you or someone else get on there…better you as the inventor…and state it is an Edison Nation infomercial.

I think it is better to show multiple versions anyway…production costs should not be that much of a problem…I know the business.

You guys have a REAL BIG chance to promote Edison Nation….maybe flash Edison Nation on the infomercial….“another fine Edison Nation product”

Also Michael…when is your next cat invention coming out? Heard it was a “Meow-er control”? Something with duct tape and the cat’s tail I heard? Do you have to get new cats for your testing? I would think so…not gonna get the same cat to work with you twice!

Just kidding Michael…

Damn! I just got an email advertising Emery Cat! Wow, every inventors dream.
Congrats, Mike and Happy New Years!

Thanks Matt and I thank you for your nice message. I too wish you will have one or two successful inventions with EN and it is not a matter of “if” but “when” so don’t give up. Great ideas are there only if we take the time to dig and explore. Happy inventing Matt!!!

Michael Diep

Michael how was the christmas sales? do you know what the upcoming royalty calculation in money might be?

Congratulations on the success of Emery Cat, Michael. The first time I saw the commercial, I had a flash back of you on Everyday Edisons from years ago and wondered if it was the same product.

Here’s one comment my husband and I have on the commercial. We’ve purchased scratching surfaces for our cats that have been made out of corrugated cardboard. They’ve always been ripped to shreads. After seeing the commercial many times, your product has a corrugated look to the scratching area. However, we can’t tell what kind of material it’s made of. We’ve been hesitant to buy one because we don’t know how well it will withstand daily use.

Congrats Michael. I see the Emery Cat just made #7 on the JW Greensheet listing of top 10!!! I’m sure you’ll have many more weeks on the list. I’ll let you know when you hit #1 ;-)

I’d love to know if cats will exclusively use it. To me, even if they may prefer it due to the catnip, cats are lazy and the furniture and carpet will still not be out of danger.

Now that’s just crazy talk Ralf!

I suspected that because all I’ve been reading is that this is the greatestest thing since declawing.

R u kidding, that thing’s like thirty bucks… It’s gotta work… I have no idea? I’m allergic to cat’s (don’t get me wrong, the’re beautiful to look at, but I can never own one!) But supposedly that nip’s like crack to those felines and they’re willing to scratch their own finger nails down trying to get at the stuff.

TIGER WOODS AND EMERY CAT!!!!! Great commercial placement! Just got done watching Tiger Woods’ live apology to everyone on CNN Headline News. It was the statement everyone’s been waiting for——and after it was over—-a commercial for Emery Cat!!!! That’s like Super Bowl placement!
Great Job!!!! Go Emery Cat!!!!!!!

Congratulations Michael!

I was just walking around Wal-Mart yesterday (only my second time ever in WalMart) and I was shocked to see an Emery Cat like product. I was kind of ingenious though. You can see it here http://www.worldwise.com/widbodcatscr.html . It was completely made of corragated cardboard and infused with catnip. It was a half inch thick and about 6″ × 12″. What you did was tear off the cover of the product to expose the inside which was a honeycomb of card board infused with catnip at which point it looked like the top of the Emery Cat. Forgot to look at price but I am sure it was cheap and you would by more as the cat tore threw the cardboard. It really intrigues me to know that there is something out there so similar to Emery Cat and that EN could take Mike’s idea run with it and make a killing in the process for the DRTV company, EN and Mike. Makes me think a little differently now about my ideas.
Matt

That product is soooo completely different. The emery cat is curved cardboard while this is flat. Secondly, the emery cat’s cardboard is made of sandpaper. Although it looks like an identical idea that may have been missed by the EN sceening process, I can assure you that it only looks that way. Hmmm, I wonder if my Emery carpet would make it to G8. Ya, it’s recycled carpet dipped in sandy glue infused with catnip.

I heard if the Emery Cat does not work and the cat still claws the furniture they have another invention to get rid of the cat and you go get a new cat. They have it all covered.

Speaking of covering things…I guess cat commercials are hot now thanks to EN….I hear Tiger Woods has one last sponsor…he is now endorsing Kitty Litter. Can’t wait to see that commercial!

The Emery Cat™ Board’s patented honeycomb surface that works like a nail file is why this product is different and protectable, plus it has the curved shape which makes it more eye appealing.

Ken/Ralf:
I agree that emery cat is different and what I was trying to say was most of the time I try to re-invent the wheel etc… But maybe it is just smarter to “tweak” the wheel (aka an existing product that is already in the marketplace). I am sure Emery Cat will be in WalMart soon enough out selling Smarty Cat! GO EMERY CAT!

I been thinking about Ralf’s Emery carpet idea…….And so lets launch Emery Cat world! A line of Emery Cat products, I will toss my idea into the ring with Emery Pants!!

When you come home from a hard day and your cat is glad to see you and starts clawing at your leg,,,“rest assured your cat will not damage your pants or scratch your legs, Thanks to Emery Pants!”

That Superscratcher in the link above has been in Wal-Mart and on the market for a while. It is not a knockoff of the Emery Cat. Maybe the Emery Cat inventor got the idea from this product. I remember my ex bought that cardboard scratcher for her cats a few years ago…well not her cats….maybe I should say my ex-cats. Is that possible to have? ex-cats?

Anyway. I am very happy for Emery Cat and EN. The more successes they have the more chances available to inventors here and I wish success to all here.

Hey Guys!
I thought I’d add a little illumination to the topic. First, the whole story is told in Everyday Edisons Season 2 so if you watch a few of the episodes, you’ll have a better understanding of the process this product went through. Check them out at http://www.hulu.com/everyday-edisons/

I was on the product development team for this product – and my cats were the prototype testers. What Michael brought us was the technology of a gritty surface so that when the cat scratches, it dulls its claws. His happened to be an add-on technology to an existing cat scratcher using sandpaper and a rubber grid (the type you’d put under a carpet to keep it from moving).

We investigated and benchmarked alternate technologies and manufacturing processes and determined the best solution was to turn the traditional cardboard honeycomb scratchers into an Emery surface the same way Emery boards are created – by using an adhesive and fine grit sand.

Our industrial design team then spent hundreds of hours working on different shapes and forms. At the time, the only cardboard scratchers that were out there were plain blocks and the turbo scratcher, which is the flat, round plastic scratcher with a cardboard insert and a ball that goes around the outside for the cat to play with.

When we settled on the current ramp design (because it’s much more natural for a cat than a flat surface), we knew we had a hit. We then started the manufacturing process. The Emery surface had never been applied to a curved surface of honeycomb cardboard like this so there was a lot of engineering work to be done on the manufacturing side. While we were doing that, several competitors saw our show and knocked off the cool ramp design. Those products hit shelves en-masse before we did. However, none of them have our patented Emery technology and that’s really the key.

So yes, there are some products out there that look a good bit like our product but they’re actually knock-offs and they lack the most important component.

I thought I’d share this story with you guys because it offers a lot of insight into the process a product goes through and some of the challenges associated with it. I also wanted everybody to realize that Michael’s technology WAS a huge innovation and not just a small improvement. We further innovated and refined it with a never-before-seen design and technology improvements. From a consumer’s perspective, though, they don’t know we came up with that new design first so we have to blow them away with our technology – which we think is awesome.

This isn’t an isolated instance. It happens all the time in this world and it’s why intellectual property and technology components are so important. The same thing happened with our Loopa Bowl. As soon as our show came out, another company knocked off the look of the bowl. What they couldn’t knock off was the non-spill technology. So they had a very cool looking bowl that lacked the most important feature that the Loopa Bowl had.

You have to take it with a grain of salt. If people are knocking you off, you know you’re on to something. You have to decide which ones are worth going after. In both of these cases, the rip off artists were intelligent enough to not include our most important patented technology. Could we go after them on a design patent side? Sure. Will we? That depends on a lot of factors. The reality is that if our product is sitting on a shelf next to their product, they won’t sell a single unit unless they incorporate our technology, which is protected by a utility patent. If they did that, we’d be after them in a second. We’ve done that, too. There’s a little real-world lesson on the value of utility versus design patent, too :-)

Sorry for the long post but I hoped it would be helpful to share the story with you guys. Please check out those episodes for a much more in-depth explanation – and to see my cats :-)

Matt:

Thanks for sharing all of this behind the scenes info with us. It really shows how much EN does for the inventor and that no product success is a walk in the park. Glad I saw that cat scratcher and posted about it.

All the best,
Matt

Thanks Matt,

That was a very interesting and useful post. No need to apologize for the length with that kind of behind the scenes “scoop” that we can actually see in a product that came to fruition. It really helped me get a better grip on EN’s thoroughness and REAL HELP they provide us …especially those of us who submit more undeveloped ideas.

Gratefully,
Kevin Da Biskit

Matt,

Thanks for the “illumination!” I had no idea how much engineering went into what appears to be a simple product. Especially useful was the insight into how you view knockoffs.

But I see one problem with the Emery Cat: If I put it on the floor, my cats will pee on it. So I have to figure out how to attach it to a wall.

Are there any plans to incorporate the gritty surface technology onto a vertical scratching post?
I’d be first in line to buy that product. Just place the gritty surface at a level just above a cat’s hips, so they can’t spray it. (;^)

Private note to Ron: No, you cannot divorce a cat. When you visit, they still demand attention, right? So they still own you. Bring treats. And maybe an Emery Cat.

(;^)

Matt Harrigan,

I agree with the other posters – the Super Scratcher has been around for a long time. I’ve had several. It does not trim, file, or shorten claws. But cats do have a ball tearing up the cardboard. Then they pee on it. Sigh.

Linda,
I think the problems you’re talking about occur more when you are living with an army of cats (which of course, you are!). We’ve never had that issue with our two cats.

I do understand the concern, though. When there are more cats around or even two with one being very territorial, that could be an issue with any scratching device that’s on the floor.

As much as I would love to describe the future of the Emery Cat as I have it’s past, I just can’t divulge any other details yet. You guys will be the first to know, though, about updates to any of our products.

In the meantime, I’m sure some people on EN can help you rig up an Emery Cat wall carrier that will do the trick! A couple carriage bolts and a 1/4 inch drill bit should do the job just fine.

- Matt

Bolting the Emery Cat to the wall is ok but you loose the stretching factor…… I would attach it into a corner at a 45 degree angle and the cats can still stretch and scratch……..“my Opinion anyway:}” Also if you added a flat version underneath then the bottom claws would actually get trimmed too! Mold it with a new shape that fits into a corner easily and it could be one piece unit and a whole new emery cat is born……My idea is Cat corner. copy protect now!

Hey Matt….can ya help me out? I didn’t know you had the test cats!!!

Since all the hoopla and success of the Emery Cat..I’ve been thinking of a cat invention of my own. It is a cleaning mechanism so the cats can help out on household chores. About time the lazy things pitch in!

The mechanism attaches to the cats tail, they get used to it after 10 minutes and stop meowing. My trouble is I had test cats but the little son of a ******** won’t let me get near ‘em anymore, can’t catch ’em.

Hey Buddy….would ya help me out? Could we use your test cats? You must know some kind of trick…maybe boozing them up a little so they cooperate with testing…but I tried that too…the cats totally refused to do any housework after that and laid drunk on the couch and did nothing…just like my ex-wife…had the same problem.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
www.handi-straps.com

Just sent cat corner into a company for review…….I hope Micheal won’t hit me……

WOW Ken…I can’t believe you are actually trying to knock off someone’s invention here, Edison Nation’s no less…and actually posted you contacted a company about the idea already!!!!

That is as bad as telling someone you are going to rob their house!!!

Ken…this is a community where we help each other…and the beautiful thing is we all do it for free…except when solicitors run through here and try to take people’s inventions and money.

People do not need you here if you are going to try and hurt them like that!!!

How dare you disrespect Michael and his Emery Cat invention like that??? Trust me, many years in this field. You will NEVER receive a dime being vicious in this field because the ONLY way to make it in this field is to build allies and friends. You need a giant good network to succeed because otherwise it is just too damn hard.

This is the second attack I have witnessed with you. If you are willing to hurt another inventor in any way then Edison Nation, this forum, Inventors Digest magazine is just not for you. These mentioned are about inventors helping inventors…not inventors willing to take a shot at the legs of another inventor to take him down.

Almost every invention can be done another way and every inventor is aware of different ways to build their invention. Nobody here needs you to try and do that and then go blab to a competing company. Nobody would EVEN DREAM of doing that to you as the inventor community does have a unique trait of trust. We do not blab about others inventions because that can hurt them. We want to see winners here…not enemies. We are a team. Be a part of that or leave.

Who are you Ken? Are you the enemy? Or are you trying to be a positive part of the inventor’s community?

Leave Michael’s invention the Emery Cat alone!!!! You cheer him on or do nothing at all. DO NOT try to hurt a fellow inventor! Even though you may seem powerless to do any harm as you exhibit this kind of behavior.

I hope this is really a misunderstanding and you did not do what you said you did.

Damn Rob, every idea has variations, so chill out!

I am not knocking off anything, Emery Cat has nothing to do with a two piece section that fits into a corner. my idea consists of filing front and back claws and fits perfectly into a corner.

How many cat scratchers do you know of?

If anyone thinks my idea is a knock off then they can’t read or comprehend at all.
If the company I submitted the idea to believes it is a knock off then they will reject it, so Ron get off your horse and chill out dude!

Also; Most ideas are just improvements to existing ideas already on the market. Do you know that their are plenty of inventors who walk around in retail shops with a notepad making notes on how they can improve existing products? For a guy who says he understands the business I am convinced you are truly confused, I don’t mean to be insulting but you leave me at a complete loss when you write……..

My idea is just that, “mine” and I am free to do with it as I see fit, also I have expanded the idea far more than what I have posted on this forum and I do not wish to topple the Emery Cat….I love Edison Nation and I wish them all the Luck in the world as well as Micheal and I hope he amasses a small fortune with Emery Cat. The only reasons I submitted my idea elsewhere is due to conflict of interest on Edison Nations part as well as I could submit the idea for free…..

I have to agree with both Ken and Matt. Matt’s original question was about whether he should change his inventing style from totally original ideas to small improvements to existing ideas. Are we all going to stop trying to improve on existing products? I read that post on here about patenting improvements to the stoneage chair. I also read about the competing products to Emery Cat. That’s the nature of our business. That’s why I don’t believe in patents because they’re too easy to circumvent. Why would we handicap ourselves when those outside our “family” will alter our ideas and sell them as different products.
I understand where you’re coming from Ron. I believe every idea I’ve come up with is totally original and if I find someone else has already thought of it, I drop it. I think that’s wrong. I think I should go back and change my idea so it’s different. It would still look like I knocked off someone else’s idea in the end. I think we owe it to the world to do what Ken is doing and improve on any existing idea whether it’s in the “family” or not. I just have to work on changing my own viewpoint on invention.

Thanks Ralf,