LOCAL INVENTORS hoping to fly high and shine
Thomas Edison and Wilbur and Orville Wright are not the only Ohio-born inventors in American history.
And sure, we have light bulbs, motion pictures or airplanes - or in-flight lights and movies, for that matter - without the ingenious efforts of those distinguished gentlemen, but some modern-day Ohioans are attempting to follow in those famous Buckeye’s foot steps.
Brenda H. and Robert and Pamela G. are would-be pioneering inventors for the new millennium.
A press representative for Invention Technologies Inc., said the three residents are awaiting licensing from manufacturers interested in developing their products.
Invention Technologies is a marketing and research company in Coral Gables, Fla. that handles publicity and public relations for inventors and their creations.
Brenda’s invention is called “Mother B. Hubbard’s Recordable Comforting Companion.” It is a sleep aid, intended to help children enjoy at nap and/or bedtime uninterrupted.
“I came up with the idea while observing the children at my sister’s in-home daycare center. I noticed how difficult it was for her to keep them asleep at nap time,” she said.
The kids’ restlessness led Brenda to brainstorm about how it might be easier for them to get to sleep more quickly and easily - and for them to stay asleep longer.
She and her husband George tossed around ideas about an invention that would allow caregivers to keep their hands free while setting up babies and toddlers down for bed time.
“I can’t get into specifics about the product because it’s still in the conceptualization process but it is a potentially interactive device that can be used as a sleep aid and learning tool and may even benefit children with autism or adult who have difficulty sleeping,” said Brenda.
As for Robert and Pamela G., their inspiration was born of a different sort of caregiving.
The couple had been looking after Pamela’s bedridden mother when they noticed that, even the slightest movement of sheets, blankets or comforters was uncomfortable for her.
The tried to devise a way to keep the weight of the bed covers off her legs, which ultimately resulted in their invention of the “Over-Bed Cradle Protector.”
“We wanted to alleviate even the smallest amount of pressure from her legs, while still providing warmth,” explained Pamela, who works as a registered nurse.
Robert works in electric motor repair and the two bounced concepts off one another until they came up with an invention they felt was useful.
Although Pamela’s mother has since passed away, she was able to benefit from the earliest form of Robert’s and Pamela’s invention.
“It really made a difference for her,” he said.
“She had developed a few bad sores, so it actually helped with the healing process of those as well,” said Pamela, noting that home health care workers assisting with her mother thought the invention was ingenious.
“We hope to help many other people in long-term care situations with our “Over-Bed Cradle Protector,’” she said.
Invention Technologies’ press representative said that divulging too many specific details about the pending inventions could compromise the potential for them to be mass-produced.
“We can’t give too much away right now, but suffice it to say that both inventions are very promising and we hope to see them become available to the public in the near future.”