RESISTANCE IS FUTILE: Pests getting sucked in by dentist's idea
For those who are squeamish about anything to do with handling bugs, help is on the way from an unusual source, a dentist and a new form of a familiar household appliance. Dr. Ralph S., wanted to have a handy way to get rid of unwanted and dangerous bugs without having to handle them so he was inspired to develop his first invention, a bug vacuum. The idea for the vacuum was thought up several years ago and he has been working on the concept off and on during that time but now he has decided to quit dreaming and make the vacuum a reality. Having dealt with bugs and bees and spiders and wasps and other unwanted household pests, Dr. Ralph S. knew that someone might be tempted to reach for a vacuum to suck the pests out of the way. But vacuums are big and clumsy and often not convenient when a bug needs to be removed, and they certainly are not designed specifically to handle bugs so he decided what was needed was a special vacuum just to get rid of those pesky pests. "If they are crawling or flying they cannot resist the vacuum," Ralph said. "I don't think a barbecue or outing should be started without one." With the threat of mosquitoes spreading West Nile Virus, the bug vacuum could be another tool to protect people from that potentially dangerous disease.
Besides providing a way to take care of nuisance and potentially harmful insects, the bug vacuum has the added benefits of using no chemicals, no sprays and nothing that would upset allergies, Ralph said. He anticipates the vacuum will come in three sizes, a handheld model that is easy move and store plus larger models. Having no experience with getting a patent and marketing a new product, Ralph had to start from scratch. He quickly discovered there was a lot to learn and it was expensive. "I had to do quite a bit of research on the patent process. I had to find out how to get a patent and how to protect it," Ralph said. "There is a lot of expense before the first prototype is made, $10,000 is gone in a moment, it's nothing." Ralph quickly discovered he needed some professional help to get the vacuum on the market so he is working with Invention Technologies Inc., a Florida company that helps inventors get their inventions marketed and out to the buyers.
"We provide a marketing service to get the product to the manufacturer," said Shonte Everett, member of the Invention Technologies inventor relations team. "We assist the inventor with information on manufacturers and getting the product onto the market for sale." That assistance includes patent attorneys, presentations at trade shows, a special manufacturers web site, a video of the product and other services. The final design of the vacuum is still being developed but Invention Technologies has shown a prototype of the vacuum at trade shows in Orlando and Dallas and a show in Chicago is scheduled in hopes of attracting a potential manufacturer, Ralph said. "The vacuum is in the conceptual stages and we are seeking a manufacturer at this time," Ralph said. "Once we get a manufacturer to produce it, we'll go full force with the product." Until the product finds a manufacturer, no photos, prototypes or illustrations of the product will be made available to the press. Even exactly how the vacuum will work is not being released. However, the special web site for qualified manufacturers is up and running and features a 3-D version for them to examine, Ralph said.
The response to the product has been encouraging and Invention Technologies has a positive attitude about the products chances. "We are confident in the product and confident it will take off quickly," Shonte said. Inventors need to have confidence, patience and a little bit of luck. Lots of new inventions are introduced every year but very few make it to the selling floor. "Only two percent of new inventions actually make it to market," Shonte said. With one invention under his belt, Ralph is considering other inventions and this time he wants to come up with something to improve dentistry.