I have a child’s product and it would make life so much easier for parents. It’s also a very simple product that modifies something every house with youg childten already has. If I get a no from the show, then my next move is a functioning prototype, as I already applied for a patent.

Eva,
I do not have anything manufactured yet, but it is an easy thing to make…just not by me! It’s a little tricky because I cannot make it without certain equipment/knowledge and the companies that make similar items may decide to copy my ideas if I use them to manufacture. I can’t really patent my idea, so this has been a bit of a struggle. I am searching now for the right company.

Hi Chris!

I know that your baby carrier is probbly very secure and stable. I just “feel” nervous when I see a baby on the top of the cart. I guess it’s a natural fear inside me that I can’t help even knowing the facts. It’s like the tripod vest that Matt invented. I just don’t “feel” comfortable with my baby on the top of a table. Nothing would probably happend to the baby, it’s just a natural fear I have. It would make me nervous and I still get nervous in the stores when I see a baby on the top of a cart.

Hi Patrice, I put my baby carrier on the top of the cart over the seated area, but my infant carrier was designed with a locking mechanism that allowed the back to lock onto the metal framed back of the seat area with the front resting on the front portion. I had to push a button and lift it to get it to unlock and release the infant carrier.

Hi Lane, I’m writing in response to your following statement: So, now I am faced with the challenge of what to do next. I have a provisional patent on the idea which expires in July. I feel this product has a lot of commercial potential, so I will likely explore licensing opportunities with major companies. I would love to be able to bring the product to market myself, but I am becoming more aware of the costs involved with that…AND because you are seeking an industrial designer as your next step….I’m curious as to the why particulars. I have also created a product for infants/childrens that is centered around self-feeding issues. I’m currently reviewing my PPA draft (all I can say about that is WOW!). I’ve heard people say they need an industrial designer for sewing manufacturers, and since I can’t yet reveal my product, or talk about it, I’m wondering why exactly. Who better to ask than you at this point! lol. Have you contacted manufacturers and this MUST be what you need to do before they will work with you? Do some manufacturers offer services where they will create the pattern, etc. based on your prototype? Thanks in advance for any information you can share about what my next steps might entail!

Heidi, Count me in for the conference call also.

ed, i get jennifer garner ALL the time….in my former profession in pharmaceutical sales, i had a cutomer physician, a cute little asian doctor, who had his wife, who also was in love with jennifer garner, take pictures of me…..i thought they were joking, but they were serious….hey, i do what ever it takes to get the business….anyway, back to your question, CEWs lasts up 6 to 7 washes….it’s meant to last one season of a child’s life…they grow like little weeds..however most tend to grow straight up and slender vs out and stout!……

Hey Eva!

Just checked out the website and your video…Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Jennifer Garner? Anyway, neat lil’ attachment, just wondering, how many washing will the Cinch-Eaze take before becoming detached?

Ed

Great point Mark, Leigh already responded with a preference for wood. Thanks for your input Leigh and Mark. I will definitely think about polling my customers on my website.

Hi, Joyce:
I love your product! I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and I currently use an over the door shoe rack on the back of her door for these types of accessories.

Here’s my 2 cents. I am limited on wall space due to windows, a shelf, and a couple of heirloom art pieces we hung in her room. If you were to make one a little larger of plastic (or cloth) that could hang on the door, I would be very interested. (I currently use the shoe slots for hair accessories as well as hats, tights and frilly socks). It’s not customized but its how I make do. Sure would be nice to have one designed like you make, plus slots for other accessories for back of door :)

However, if I were going to affix one to the wall, I would much prefer the wood. A lot of people have wood shelving in their daughter’s rooms. This might factor into their preference for wood as a complementary piece??

Just a thought :)

Great Joyce!
But be careful about eliminating the wood. Consider polling your existing customers about it’s importance. Lots of people who will buy wood won’t touch plastic.

Mark,

The hard part of finding customers is over for me. I have SALES! I can’t keep up with them because I do so much of the manufacturing of my product myself. Thanks for the site. I bookmarked several companies that might be able to do some of my work. I’m looking into having my organizer made out of plastic. I hope that will help it be made faster and cheaper than wood.

Joyce,

Have you seen this site? http://www.suppliersource.com/supplier_services

I haven’t researched them so do your homework, but finding customers is the hard part. If you have sales, others can do the work.

sure, i’ll speak about the in’s and out’s of licensing…who is facilitating the conference call?

I second the motion!

hey Eva … I nominate you to be a speaker at the children’s products phone conference … are you gamed ?

yes, invention home was the answer for me…cinch-eaze is just one aspect of my life…..i have other business ventures i am embarking on….i believe on capitalizing on my strengths sales/marekting/pr than wasting time on the aspects i can do, but do not like to do (operations, ugh)…so the business side of me, knew that licensing was the option for me…will i become a millionaire from licensing, probably not, but you know what?…a couple hundred thousand can make a profound difference in my life…..so i did thorough research, and invention home was the only one, besides EN that came out clean…based on the BBB, number of resolved complaints, references, which i requested Invention Home supply (or i would not trust them…i did not want to hear about IH from their sales person, rather someone who went through their process successfully)….and i also liked the fact that i could still pursue other companies on my own….this was huge for me…so my decision to license my product was not a cop-out, rather a reflection on my lifestyle, and what i ultimately want out of my life—a balance…and i did go the direct to consumer route, like you joyce, and i loved it, but i do not like operations….

Thanks Eva. I was surprised to hear they let you go but it sounds like you had a Win Win experience. I am so happy for you! I have been reading a lot about this Invention Home company. Seems like they have a lot of fans from Edison Nation. Licensing is the route I’m looking for, I am physically exhausted with manufacturing myself.
I started out finding a company through ThomasNet.com to cut my frames for me. I have a home shop to sand, drill, prime, sand, paint, then I move into my bedroom to assemble, decorate, and package. I’m sure you know all about the mom duties that don’t go away while you’re trying to work. I have four – 1 boy, 3 girls.
My husband would love to have a bedroom that didn’t look like a work shop. We had a guy come over to bid on some remolding work. When he saw our bedroom, he said “Alright, this is my kind of master bedroom, nail gun and air tank.” I was a little embarrassed. I’m sure I don’t have to mention this, but my husband has been a wonderful supporter.
I am so happy so many women find a need for my product. It’s become overwhelming and I’m searching for my next step. I hope it will be in Licensing.

joyce, the folks at EN are wonderful…and they were wonderful to let me go and pursue the outside licensing contract for my product..and now i have 3 companies interested in playing ball…i found 2 companies on my own, and then i found another company by using the services over at Invention Home….i am in the best position, with deals on the table, yes actual offers…now negotiations come into play, and could last long or end short….anyway, if you have any questions about licensing, i am becoming well versed…i would love too hear more about your experiences about manufacturing yourself..

…It’s funny Lane—I was just thinking about the Bumbo seat last night (I know a family that liked to put their baby in a Bumbo on the table but luckily, the baby just landed in a plate of food). That said, I really do love the Bumbo seat (we used to make tray tables for the Bumbo out of old large Pamper boxes and cover them with contact paper—allowed little ones to explore fine motor skills).

Mathew: Who knew what the Bumbo originally looked like in its “ideating”(is that a word?) form?!

I am always amazed how my original ideas end up looking totally different once I take safety considerations, ASTM standards, et. al. into account. However, the goal(s) of the product remains the same.

I have been reading the discussion about restaurants and high chairs and I just want to burst, since my invention is designed for this environment.

Of course, there are IP issues with divulging too much, but I can say that I feel confident that the invention will not only make the experience more pleasurable for the baby AND the parents, it will also add elements of safety and proper child development, as well!

Regarding the issue of putting the baby on the table, a product called the Bumbo had similar issues. Some parents sat their child in it unattended, and the child fell over. I guess there was a lawsuit involved. I’m definitely finding out about designing things with liability issues in mind.

My goal is to develop the website to sell not just our own inventions, but those of other inventors who need an outlet of distribution and marketing. I think the sheer ingenuity of the products will start to attract visitors, which will help everyone involved.

Lane

Hi Eva,

I just went to your website, great idea! Congratulations on your success. I also have a product for children (girls, women, and pets). I was on Good Morning America with it. My, Notice of Allowance & Fee(s) Due, from the USPTO just came in, took about 15 months. I had one company express interest in a license deal. I didn’t think it was going to be a good deal for me, so I started manufacturing these myself. Please see my product at www.DesignsByJoyG.com My sales took off too. Mostly sells for girls, but have also made them for women and two dogs. I had several companies ask for wholesale pricing, but I have a hard time keeping up with orders. I hope to hear from Edison Nation about my “Commercialize My Product” submission.
Let me know what you think. Is this a product for store shelves?

The vest would give you the OPTION of putting baby up on the table if one didn’t have a carrier or if a restaurant didn’t have highchairs, it doesn’t demand it. We had a car seat of course but it wasn’t the detachable kind, and as you pointed out, even that and/or a carrier comes with the problem of either setting baby on the floor, it being to bulky to put on a chair or…

But as I said, it gives support and enough bulk to where putting a floppy infant in a highchair wouldn’t be a problem.

It is intended to ease transporting a baby to a variety of destinations, its not quite clothing, not quite furniture but both.

It can conceivably replace carriers/chairs, baby bjorn type products with its option of wearing baby as a big necklace, it has detachable leggings, arms and hoodie for colder weather, little side vents for hotter weather, breast straps/handles for getting baby in/out of the car seat with ease, and a pacifier tether so when it’s spit out it’s not on the floor or ground.

As Heidi pointed out too, if used beyond transport and strictly as seating, it keeps baby upright which helps with muscle development. I can envision a baby pushing down with the legs and rocking it back, lifting the “tire” for leg muscles too.

It is intended for newborns through 12 months.

It is not intended to replace the watchful eye of parents however, it is not a guardian angel…I understand, when Lilian was a baby I didn’t even like the idea of her leaving home because driving is that much more dangerous than chilling on the couch, and what if we’re stuck behind a nasty diesel truck?

I did like going to restaurants to show her off though, and as the parent of a newborn I felt entitled to clear a table and prop her up so the waitresses could ooh and aah over her!

Honestly, I don’t know that I would want my baby on the top of the table. Even if it was suctioned down I was still be nervous. Did you say that it could be suctioned to the seat? If the bipod is adjustable could it be raised so that the baby would be able to rest it’s arms over the table?

When my girls were little and we went out to eat we would flip the wooded highchairs over and their carriers would fit nicely on top. They were small so the toys that hung from the handle were enough to entertain them. It did make me a little nervous because the carrier wasn’t really secured to the highchair but we managed. What also makes me nervous is when I see moms put the carriers on top of the grocery carts! I used to put mine actually in the back of the cart – carrier and all. I couldn’t fit alot of groceries in it but I felt more safe that way.

I didn’t catch the goal for the vest Mathew. Was it so that the baby isn’t stuck in the carrier all day and felt more involved being upright?

Heidi,

The outer material is nylon, the inner foam would be memory foam or any combination of foams for comfort and rigidity, the inner liner is removable cotton.

The most rigid part, the spine, is a wider plastic piece which the bipod also attaches to and that is attached on the outer face of the foam in back, the baby would never feel it, just the soft foam and cotton liner.

Greg,

Babies don’t sweat too much but you may notice some mesh vents along the side of the vest, what little perspiration there is would be soaked into the liner. If wicking into the foam is an issue, and the sweat gets nasty, perhaps it could be made of some anti-bacterial material or occasionally get sprayed with an appropriate product for that purpose.

The BUV would have to be removed for diaper changes.

I usually prefer booths at restaurants, in which case baby would go against the wall. The feet of the bipods could easily be suction cups. As long as the baby’s footwear isn’t as grippy as the BUV “tire” and bipod feet there shouldn’t a problem.
If it was me, I’d keep fuzzy socks on the feet, virtually no grip on glass, and the suction cups have alot.

Great questions and concerns, thank you so much for the feedback.

I guess this is public disclosure.

I like it….In thinking it through day to day uses,I would only throw out a couple of thoughts:
1.Core body temperature on hot days with all the foam; would it allow perspiration to wick through?
2. Diaper change in a traditional carrier is fairly easy with everything exposed/simple…How is it with the vest?
3. I am thinking of a meal at Outback Steakhouse with my wife and infant in the vest, on the table..the rods would really have to reach out to make a solid wide base…I am thinking something along a 45 degree angle….wouldn’t that take up 1/2 the table?…And the thought of her wriggling around and one of those rods dipping off the edge of the table?…Oh Lord!!!!….I am pretty paranoid about my baby girl and would probably want to drill the rods into the table..and glue them… before I trusted them…
But the concept is very intriguing…would love to see a thorough R&D report/feedback….Keep up the good work!

…in terms of the pictorial view from the front, I would say yes.

Question about the posterior aspect of this idea: where do the support structures hit—on certain areas of the spine/rib cage? And I am also wondering how the various components (zippers and pockets) would feel when the child is leaning up against it?

Please feel free not to answer my questions (in the interest of protecting your idea)…just wanted to throw out a couple ideas/considerations.

Heidi,

Are you saying the BUV would have therapeutic value in addition to parental convenience?

I can see what you’re saying, baby chairs and seats usually put them in a reclined position, the BUV, in chair mode, would keep them upright while allowing just the right amount of freedom to develop muscle tone.

…with the rise in torticollis (decrease in head and neck range of motion) and mishapen head (plagiocephaly) diagnoses throughout the US, I think parents need an alternative to just plunking their infant in an infant car seat all day.

The back mounted bipod forms a tripod with the little rubber grip in the crotch area, this creates a built in chair for upright support while the baby is on the floor…

The vest would allow you to actually put the baby on the table up where everyone can see and where waitresses aren’t likely to trip over, as in the case of carriers left on the floor. With the bipod retracted the vest provides back and neck support and extra bulk so the baby could be put into a high chair.

The front of the vest has the non-strangling pacifier tether, and breast straps so you can just grab the baby from the car seat carrier without having to finesse your hands behind and under while bent over and twisted.

There are little “trunks” in back to store the removable leggings and arms and hoodie.

The shoulder area has two rings to attach to a broad neck strap for mommy and daddy to carry baby hands free, like a big necklace.

The baby bjorn product is great but it usually required a second person to extract the baby, the BUV would allow one person to attach and detach the rings.

I also figured the foam material inside that is used for the support of the vest could be buoyant so it could double as a life vest in case the parents are into boating or happen to be hiking near water. The design is very much like a life vest already.

Mathew,
…From a children’s therapy perspective, there is definitely something to your utility vest (check out Theratog at: http://www.theratogs.com/About.aspx and weighted vests at http://www.adaptivechild.com). I’m sorry if I missed it, but I didn’t see a description of your vest. It seems like the therapy world is always looking for cost effective ways to provide children with input to their trunks. Your vest looks like it does that (is it weighted?)and has functional/practical applications as well. Unfortunately, most of the products out there are so expensive that therapists end up going to the dollar store and buying neoprene waist bands and making their own vests (for children who are “normal” and those with disabilities).

…sorry if I misinterpreted the function of your product.

I have some child product ideas myself. The whole restaurant thing is a challenge in itself trying to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Lane, if your product keeps them in their seat and entertained for an hour or two than GOD BLESS YOU and I will be the first one to buy your product.

Hi Mathew,

That is some vest you’ve got there. It looks incredibly rugged. I guess that’s why you’ve got the Jeep logo on the side? Am I seeing that right on the back? Are those some sort of support rods?

I don’t think our products would be used simultaneously, because mine is for actually sitting the child in a restaurant high chair. From what I can tell, your support rods would restrict that.

In terms of pooling our resources, I DO like the idea of all of us helping each other out, by supporting and promoting each other in our endeavors. My wife and I are working on a company and website to promote and sell innovative baby products. I’ll keep everyone posted on that.

Lane,

you and I are on the same page maybe?

here’s an idea, we could pool our resources and spawn our own company.

I have to assume nobody wants to divulge their own
idea or give up their IP rights so I will since I have dozens of inventions more important to me.

If you go to my page and go to my photos you’ll see my “baby utility vest”.

It was the second invention I showed the judges in Providence, I reckon they rejected it for liability issues but honestly, infants tip over more often from floor level than they would without the vest.

And as Lane stated, the restaurant problem is an issue – usually solved by propping up an infant on the actual table, or resting them in the bulky carrier toted in from the car on the floor, the chairs provided just aren’t snug enough. The BUV solves other problems too, like spat out pacifiers, and extracting a baby from a car without disturbing them or tweaking your back.

heidi, thanks for taking the initiative on this conference call…i have it in my iphone now….

Hi Everyone!

So here are the details to the phone conference meeting:

Date: July 8, 2008

Time: 7-8:30 pm CST

Subject: Children’s Products Division: “Lessons Learned, etc.”

Conference Phone Number: (616) 597-8000 / access code: 852896# (through freeconferencecall.com)

Please email me (Heidi E) if you would like to attend (so that I can get a general idea of numbers) and also if you would like to be a speaker. I would like for the meeting to be informal, but just in case we have a large number of people, I might have to start the meeting off with some structure.

Also feel free to email Heidi E if you have any questions—Thanks!

…looking forward to the meeting,
Heidi

It seems like it’s all about mom inventors these days. How about dad inventors??? Well I’m one of them. My invention was based on my personal life experience and the hardships that myself and my family endured after I developed Asthma at a year old. It was something that I didn’t want my newborn son (at the time) or as a matter of fact anyone else to go through. I got all yes votes from the judges and also got final consideration. After my presentation Michael Cable followed me out and mention that they were all very impressed and asked me if he could take possesion of my two prototypes, which I agreed to of course. So it’s a wait and see and we’ll see what happens. I take a lot of pride in my invention considering the what it can do. Please feel free to visit my web site and any feedback would be appreciated.
www.TheAirGuardian.com
I would like to thank EE for giving me the chance to help change the way we live, work and play because if we don’t have health then everything is effected.

Did I say grey?! I meant gray…perhaps I am losing a bit of my cognitive functions as well(God Bless spell check when it is available).

Heidi I have boy and girl twins … how about you ? Know what ya mean about going gray and losing hair … I think I am also losing my mind at times ! Gotta me curious Scott ?! …I have a feeling we can all benefit from each others products. And Eva that is a scary thought !

Well, my invention will help with a lot of frustrations, but it is before the terrible two’s, really. It’s designed for use with restaurant high chairs…need I say more?

The terrible two’s are not so bad, plus they only last a couple of years…

And YES, the Tyke Myke can help. I’ll show all the details on Season 3 hopefully!

i will make t-shirts that say “i survived the terrible twos!”….mine are 7 & 5 now…but now i am battling different issues….now i want them to be two again….

I am with you Shelly…I have twin two-year-olds and I think instead of going grey, I will be going bald:)

a little humor … since this seems to be the appropriate place to ask … has anyone invented something … anything to make our lives easier for those ‘terrible twos’ turning three? … the writing is on the wall(literally) … I have a feeling the ‘threes’ are going to be trying !

good for you Eva on the bites you are getting …I am sure you will land a big catch !
and too funny that you mentioned the ‘field of dreams’ … that is my hometown
I think this is great that fellow parent inventors are so open to network together … we can all learn from each other

jason, yes i do have a website for parent inventors…it will be launched in august…just to let everyone know, i started a group locally and as the saying goes from the movie “a field of dreams”, if you build it, they will come…ParentInnovators.com (you will see the place holder on the internet right now…i have a new site with various functions being established as we speak) started locally here in Sacramento, CA and now is growing into the San Francisco Bay Area, and hopefully soon into southern california…and then the plans are to go nationally….i have already tons of people in other states interested…my goal is to turn the organization into a non-profit, but as i am learning, establishing a non-profit is very tricky and difficult….

wow, thanks shelly for informing me that this forum group has grown since i wrote last…when i first started this post, i kept looking day after day for any other child product inventors out there, and now a group has been established…wonderful….shelly was wondering what i have been up to….after leaving the edison nation evaluation/commercialization process—-a long story, and the edison nation people are fantastic in their efforts, truly—i pursued a couple of outside inquiries from companies interested in cinch-eaze waistbands for licensing…..i now have 3 companies bidding!…one is a major national retailer, and i can’t mention names yet, because i am supertitious—silly eh? (and i don’t know where that superstition stems from, but i am)…one company has already presented me with a licensing offer, and now i am waiting for the other two…i have a conference call with the major retailer to discuss more potential of my product with their brand of clothing….so when it rains, it pours…..but my journey of 1 1/2 yrs was an emmotional one and very difficult…and when people say it’s not easy, it really is not easy….and to be honest, as i have learned, deals can still slip from my fingers at any moment….so just because i have 3 offers does not mean that 3 offers will go through….i have to persist through negotiations still…and negotiations can break deals very easily…and as has already happened to me, i can land myself right back to square one again….i’ll let you all know how things pan out….

Thanks guys. I would love to know more about your experiences in the field! I think since the caps are entered into the contest though, I had better wait until EE makes a call on them first. You aren’t kidding about powercap, blastcap, and others. Everyone seems to see the huge market potential. Both of those and many of the others though, still require a twist or button push…I think the reason we have not yet seen any mainstream caps from those guys is that small kids and elderly could have problems with pressing the buttons and doing all that cap twisting..None of that is needed with these…you can turn the bottle upside down and count to 5, or just shake once and they engage…cool to watch the kids’ expressions when they pop them on and the water changes color…I really hope EE has some connections in the beverage industry..We’ve got the estimated retail down to less than 25 cents and even though that doesn’t sound profitable, the market is multi-billion..I look forward to getting back with you both on the subject and wish you the best with your submissions!

I just started a “Childrens Products” network on this site.

http://www.edisonnation.com/inventor_groups/182

Please join!!!

First question is posted…

Scott