Contractor is doing his Level best to make his life easier
Michael M. describes himself as a "jack-of-all-trades and a master of several." For a number of local landlords, he's the go-to-guy when something goes wrong, so on any day he could have his hands in carpentry fix-its, wallboard repairs and plumbing catastrophes too awful to mention here. Michael is also a locksmith, master woodworker and machinist, and he knows his way around automotive and motorcycle engines. On call to maintain more than 400 housing units in the area, Michael works seven days a week and, like anybody with such a frenzied schedule, looks for ways to save time, cut costs and still get the job done. Out of necessity, Michael, owner of M&M Remodeling, conceived the Yardstick Leveler, the working title of a multiple use tool he boasts will replace the ordinary carpenter's level, T-square and a half-dozen implements in the contractor's arsenal. "Contractors need a lot better stuff that works," Michael said.
His better mousetrap contains the bubble vials of standard levels as well as laser guidance, now the rage among everyone from commercial builders to homeowners trying to hang a picture. "It will have four lasers instead of just two like most of them," he said. But, as infomercial pitchmen are fond of saying, that's not all. If the Yardstick Leveler reaches store shelves as Michael envisions, the product will also include attachments. He hopes to market it as a complete set but also wants to design attachments to fit on existing levels and T-squares. "It's been in my head for a couple of years," he said of the Leveler. Last summer, he got it out of his head and onto paper and hired Invention Technologies of Coral Gables, Fla., to help bring it to market. "They flipped over it," Michael said. "It's such a new product and does so many things."
Invention Technologies spokeswoman Shonte E. said Michael's invention showed merit. Many don't and are rejected. "We felt confident in the product," Shonte said. "Right now, we are looking for a manufacturer to secure a licensing agreement through," she said. Michael shelled out $10,000 for a two-year contract with Invention Technologies, whose most notable success has been the Thighmaster exercise device. Michael said he researched invention developmental firms and settled on Invention Technologies once he was convinced they were on the level. For his 10 grand, Michael gets the services of a patent attorney, a patent search, marketing research, drawings, a mockup, video and other assistance, including exposure at manufacturers' trade shows. This is Michael's first experience with Invention Technologies, and if it goes well, he said he will consider giving them a crack at some of his other inventions. He's working on some new ones at this very moment. "Everything I come up with gets rid of a lot of product," Michael said.