It’s quite an exhilarating feeling when you have an idea and you work really hard to bring it to the world.  Having an idea, like all my clients out there, is something that we share in common. 

Something very special is happening here in the next couple of days.  An idea I had for a reality TV show about what we do will be airing on the History Channel at noon on Saturday, December 24th.

As I’m sitting here working with my team, they are telling me that I have it too good, because it’s my birthday on December 23rd, the show airs on the 24th and Christmas is the 25th!  So, this is going to be three days of bliss!

For me, though, the reward is getting the opportunity to have that feeling that idea people get when the world comes in contact with their creation for the first time.  It’s kind of like that tingle when you’re a kid waiting for Santa to arrive!  It’s truly going to be a magical holiday this season.

Happy holidays to all you idea people out there who dare to create something new!

- George M. Davison, Founder & CEO of Davison and Founder of Inventionland

Ever since Henry Ford, who just happens to be one of Mr. Davison’s favorite inventors, introduced the Model T in 1908, Americans have had an affinity for the motor vehicle, in all of its shapes and, especially, with all of its enhancements!  Today, we take a look at a few of the automobile industry’s top innovations, in no particular order, of course!

Speaking of an order, even before Ford’s Model T, Alabama inventor Mary Anderson was prepared for weathering any storm.  She invented the first spring-loaded, rubber-bladed windshield wipers!  At the time, they were intended for streetcars, but became an automobile essential by 1917.

Not to be taken for granted, the first automobiles didn’t have a starter, but had to be hand-cranked at the start of a trip.  Inventor and eventual vice president of General Motors, Charles Kettering, patented an “engine starting device” in 1911.

Merging into traffic may be nearly impossible without Texas race-car driver and inventor Ray Harroun’s 1911 automobile innovation – the rearview mirror!  He won the Indianapolis 500 with his device, a small mirror attached to his windshield.  At the time, other drivers used riding partners to watch for oncoming traffic.

While not a standard feature ON automobiles, Ford’s 1913 conveyor-belt assembly line made it possible to produce automobiles for the masses – one every 93 minutes, to be exact!  Ford’s method also inspired Mr. D, who followed the example when devising the Davison Inventing Method.  In fact, Mr. Davison is even known as “the Henry Ford of inventing,” because he has made it affordable for anyone to pursue their ideas!

Really revving up the industry was the mass production of the V8 engine and we have Cadillac to thank for that!  In 1915, the company introduced a 70 horsepower L-Head V8 engine.  Again, we can thank Henry Ford for making a more affordable model, which he introduced in 1932.

An automobile made out of corn and soybeans?  We think so!  Now termed “bioplastics,” the Ford Motor Company began experimenting with plastic automobile components in the 1920s.  In 1941, they introduced the first bioplastic car – but it never made it to production.

What’s that you’ve got in your trunk?  An air conditioner?!  The Packard Motor Company introduced the first built-in air conditioner in 1939, right before the U.S. entered World War II.  The huge option filled half a trunk and cost over $4,000!

Now, here’s a feature that does not come “standard” – automatic transmission!  Again attributed to Charles Kettering and General Motors, the four-speed transmission was introduced to the masses in 1940 Oldsmobiles, but it didn’t really catch on until Cadillac buyers made it their preferred option.

No automobile could pass an emissions inspection today without the next invention on the list, the catalytic converter!  The device, which converts toxic gases into harmless ones, was pushed to the forefront when the EPA set exhaust restrictions in 1975.  We (and Mother Nature) thank you!

To read more about these made-in-the-USA automobile innovations, visit http://editorial.autos.msn.com/made-in-the-usa.

A couple months ago, we gave you part one of how our client, Kay, came up with the idea for her adorably-designed Pugz Shoes for Dogs – to protect her two Shelties, Rough Spot and Autumn Angel, from cold weather and salt-soaked paws. (If you missed the article, check it out here!)

Since that time, Kay’s doggie shoes have been licensed by Hugs Pet Products and they’re currently selling in major retailer Bed Bath & Beyond.

Now, the inventor, and grandma, has taken a new step in her invention process.  A few weeks ago, Kay and her granddaughter, Breanna, visited the place where it all got started – Inventionland.  While they were at the world’s most creative workplace, they were also greeted with some more good news – delivered by a furry four-legged friend!

“A little doggie had it for me… and it was wearing my product,” said Kay.

That little doggie had a royalty check for Kay; she said she almost couldn’t believe what was happening.

“[It was] a huge surprise that I was not expecting at all,” said Kay.

Kay and Breanna also spent some time with Mr. Davison, who Kay said obviously shared in her excitement.

“I think [Mr. Davison] gets as excited as the client,” she said.

In fact, Kay felt so at home in Inventionland, she said she felt like she had a new, extended family.

“I have a very wonderful feeling about everyone.  It was a very comfortable experience.  Anyone who gets to do this is fortunate,” said Kay.

And, for others who may be considering pursuing their own ideas, Kay said a positive attitude is key.

“I would advise [future inventors] to stay positive and do some research… Don’t get discouraged, it can happen,” said Kay.  “I’m a firm believer… nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

A message from Mr. Davison on the passing of a technological icon:

“One of the greatest pirates of all time died yesterday.  He was someone who I really looked up to… and his name was Steve Jobs.

One of the things I really respect about Steve Jobs was how he took on the establishment and fought hard to make a better product even though the industry was controlled by IBM, one of the biggest corporations on the planet.  With his passing, a deep mystery exists as to how that industry will move forward.

Steve was part artist and part businessman, which is hard to find anywhere in the world.  When you do find one, who surrounds himself or herself by an inspired group of people, new industries can be born or reshaped to reflect the times.

I will personally miss him, because I always looked forward to seeing what he was going to do next.  As a people and as a nation, we will be forever grateful for his contributions, making the computer world more simple for all of us to work in, as well as influencing all the motion pictures we all love from Pixar Studios.

His many accomplishments are far beyond what I’ve mentioned.  I will forever think of him as a pirate on some great adventure and I will reflect upon that skull and crossbones flag that flew outside of Apple headquarters.”

–   George M. Davison, Founder & CEO of Davison and Founder of  Inventionland

As summer winds down and temperatures begin to cool, we’d like to take a minute to recognize one of America’s favorite summer pastimes, the game of golf.  After all, August is National Golf Month, so why not take a minute to “drive” home a few of the game’s firsts?

We begin with the origin of the game itself, which actually was about as hard to track down as playing 18 holes on a PGA championship course!  However, it seems the modern version of the game began in 15th-century Scotland.   In fact, history shows the first written record of the game was actually a document outlawing it!

So, what did 15th century golfers whack around?  Well, at first, pebbles (OUCH!).  Next up, were thin leather bags, stuffed with feathers – which made a hole in one impossible!  Finally, in 1858, Reverend Adam Paterson was credited with making a “gutta-percha” ball from tree sap that could fly about 225 yards.  Enhancing Paterson’s invention and the distance the ball would travel, Coburn Haskell introduced a rubber-cored ball in 1898 that soared to an impressive 430 yards.  The ball’s dimpled pattern was added in 1905 by William Taylor and well, that pretty much brings them up to modern speed!

The earliest golf clubs were wooden and are attributed to Scottish makers Tom Morris and Willie Park.  Just before the 20th century, Thomas Horsburgh, a blacksmith, began experimenting with steel-shafted clubs.  After that, club-makers used graphite and titanium to craft clubs.

While we’re not too sure how golfers originally toted their clubs around, golf bags came into use in the 1880s and Merlin Halvorson is credited with inventing the first cart in 1962.

Last, but not least, as we certainly wouldn’t want to “tee” anyone off, in 1889, Scottish golfers William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas patented the first portable golf tee.  Percy Ellis was granted a Brittish patent just three years later for his “Perfectum” tee, made of rubber and metal.  The cup-shape was added to the top of the tee and patented by PM Matthews in 1897.  Americans Prosper Senat and George Grant also received patents for various tee improvements.

If your weekend round is rained out, learn more about the history of golf and other inventors who helped improve the tools of the trade at http://www.golf-club-revue.com/golf-club-history.html and http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/golf.htm.

Sometimes, celebrity comes with a side of glitz, glamour and… innovation!  We’ve said it before, but ideas really do come from everywhere and from everyone!

From the King of Pop to Catwoman, here’s a host of celebrities who are bursting with talent and also with ideas:

1.  Michael Jackson 
If the Shoe Fits, Wear it! 
Slip these on your feet and you’ll be hooked… literally!  To accompany his sleek dance moves and assist “Smooth Criminal” video directors, MJ designed these gravity-defying kicks that hooked into stage floors, allowing him and his dancers to pull-off seemingly superhuman moves!

2. Prince 
The Artist Formerly Known as Inventor
Why should a member of music royalty that’s done it all have to choose between his guitar and piano?  Thanks to Prince’s keytar, he doesn’t!  Like leg warmers and acid-washed jeans, the keytar was a product of the 80s.  It was worn like a guitar, but played like a keyboard – and made a supposed 2007 European comeback!

3. Eddie Van Halen
Go Ahead, Jump…
With your guitar that is.  Do-it-yourselfer Eddie Van Halen created a guitar support device that allowed him to maneuver his guitar like a keyboard, so he could use both hands!  Leaving no stone unturned, Van Halen even included banjos and mandolins in his patent application!  Eddie, we can’t stop lovin YOUR creativity!

From the stage to the big screen, innovation doesn’t only lie within mega-hit music artists.  Here are a few on-screen heroes who had big-time ideas, too!

4.  Marlon Brando
The Man, the Myth, the Inventor!
A man of many faces on the big screen, it turns out Marlon Brando could have also drummed his way into our hearts.  The drummer in an Illinois band even had a little Henry Ford in him, patenting a way to make tuning drums more efficient and affordable!

5. Jamie Lee Curtis 
Bringing a New Meaning to Triple-Threat
Acclaimed actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis added inventor to her growing list of talents in 1988 when she patented an innovative infant diaper design.  Curtis’ diaper design included an outside pocket, perfect for stashing baby wipes.  Okay, Supermom!

6. Julie Newmar 
“Holy Innovator, Batman!”
This 1960’s Catwoman just said “no” to her skintight cat-suit!  Instead, she made an improvement to the newly invented pantyhose.  Newmar improved the design, creating a more sheer option that women wear to this day.

For a list of more celebs with patented success, inspire your inner-innovator and read about Harry Houdini’s swimsuit or turn a page in Mark Twain’s scrapbook by clicking here.

According to About.com, approximately 20% of all inventors are currently female, and that number should quickly rise to 50% over the next generation. Judging by the results of the first annual Google Science Fair, however, the number of future female inventors could be even higher, particularly in the U.S.

Competing with more than 10,000 students from 91 countries, American girls took first place in all three age categories in the recent science fair. The entries were narrowed down to 60 semifinalists, and then to 15 finalists who presented their findings to judges at Google’s y headquarters last month.

The winner in the age 17 – 18 category tackled ovarian cancer and presented research that could improve the effectiveness of a chemotherapy drug. The other winning projects dealt with the effects of air quality on lungs, and reducing cancer-causing compounds produced by the grilling of meat (news: lemon juice and brown sugar marinades – good; soy sauce marinade – not so good!)

Of the 15 finalists, nine of the entries were from boys, so it is clear there are still many budding male inventors. But the sweep of American girls has defeated two long-held stereotypes: that science is a male-dominated field, and that American students are lagging behind other countries in science. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!

Read the interesting New York Times article on the results of the Google Science Fair!

This week marks the birth of an undeniably influential inventor, without whom the words iPod, iPhone and iPad may never exist!  Steve Wozniak’s work has helped make the computer industry all that it is today.

Born and raised in California, Wozniak began his college career at the University of California, Berkeley.  Prior to finishing his degree, he secured a job at Hewlitt-Packard and left the university.  At the same time, Wozniak was involved in a local, experimental-computing organization with fellow entrepreneur, Steve Jobs.  With a little convincing, Wozniak joined Jobs in beginning a business to build personal computing systems.

Together, the pair raised $1300 to launch their venture, selling off personal items like a car and a calculator, and set up shop in Jobs’ family garage in 1976.  The dynamic duo sold their first 50 personal computers, or Apple Is, for $666 each, to a California computing company.  But, as we all know, they didn’t stop there.

The Apple II quickly followed as the first mass-marketed personal computer, revolutionizing the launch of the personal computer industry.  While Apple’s success has continued to soar, at the time, Wozniak moved on to other projects.  Today, he remains an official Apple employee and still collects a pay check!

From Apple, he went back to Berkeley, finished a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and became involved in education.  Wozniak began teaching and sponsoring programs for youth worldwide.

Ever the entrepreneur, he also went on to begin several other technology-forward companies, including CL 9, Wheels of Zeus, or “WoZ” and Acquicor Technology, among which developed remote control switches and wireless GPS technology.

Wozniak has been recognized extensively for all of his work in the computing industry.  In 1985, he received the President’s National Medal of Technology.  In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment for “single-handedly designing the first personal computer and for then redirecting his lifelong passion for mathematics and electronics toward lighting the fires of excitement for education in grade school students and their teachers.” (http://www.woz.org/)  Just a few examples of his commitment to tomorrow’s leaders, he has provided hundreds of laptops, America Online accounts and Internet access to students and teachers throughout his career.

Continuing to add to his seemingly never-ending list of accomplishments, Wozniak is a New York Times best-selling author who has also made several television appearances, including “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

While the accolades and recognition that came along with Wozniak’s work come as no surprise, this innovator’s favorite computer game?  No, it’s not the graphically-enhanced Call of Duty, Guitar Hero or Halo, but a more traditional, old-favorite… Tetris.

Perhaps, for this computer genius, they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Nonetheless, from all of us clutching our favorite “iDevices,” Happy Birthday, Mr. Wozniak and THANK YOU!

*Information for this article and more information on Steve Wozniak provided by http://www.woz.org/ and http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/apple.html.

For our client, Kay, and her two Shelties, Autumn Angel and Rough Spot, taking a December trot in the snow, with her neighbor, Janice, and her golden retriever, was nothing close to walking in a winter wonderland. Instead, their faithful friends would wind up with either cold, wet snowy paws or even salt-soaked paws, from treated roads and sidewalks.

“I needed something that would stay on and protect their paws… [Something to] keep their paws from getting dry and cracked,” Kay said.

For Kay, the logical solution was boots for her pups. After all, they worked for her. So, she searched stores high and low to find the perfect pair, but there was a problem.

“Nothing really stayed on. Their booties would fall off in snow banks,” said Kay.

Kay, Autumn Angel and Rough Spot needed a better solution.

“I looked all over and didn’t see hardly anything out there. Everything I did try, never stayed on,” said Kay.

Although she knew what the problem was, because the “Jill-of-all-trades” typically was busy working, she didn’t have time to pursue a solution right away.

According to Kay, she worked for about ten years in banking, but has also held positions in retail, housekeeping and on the line at General Motors!

“I’ve even done a little pet-sitting. I don’t feel like it’s just a job,” she said.

Perhaps the labor of love  inspired her. Around 2006, she thought of a more-improved boot, one that wouldn’t just slip off. While she kept the idea close to her, she also told her friend, Janice, and some of her family.

“[Janice] was so excited about it!  She agreed there should be something… [and], my grandchildren thought it was cool,” said Kay.

Her son, Kurt, must have thought it was a pretty cool idea, too. He began searching online and that’s when they found Davison. Without seeking any other invention companies, Kay decided to pursue her idea.

“I was hopeful about it. I was looking forward to how it would turn out,” she said.

She was very happy with the stylish, finished product that Davison designed, but the boots really ”kicked” off when she received an unexpected phone call.

“Like [Davison's Licensing Department] motto, ‘We try longer,’ they did! I was quite surprised they were calling. It looked like the ball was rolling on my idea,” Kay said.

Those boots were made for walking  and that’s just what they did! Hugs Pet Products licensed and now sells Kay’s idea as Pugz, faux leather and faux wool shoes that provide pets with comfort and keep paws dry in any weather conditions.

Kay said she was very happy with the product that resulted from pursuing her idea with Davison, although she seemed a bit reluctant to accept her new title, “inventor.”

“Yes, I guess I do! I’m pretty proud of it!” she said.

Her fearless attitude, anything but reluctant, is a tell-tale sign of that title.

“I figured, just go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” she said.

Congratulations to Kay, Hugs Pet Products and everyone who worked on making this exciting venture such an awesome gain!

Although we can’t speak for Autumn Angel and Rough Spot, we’re sure they give Pugz four paws up!

The client has not realized a net profit on this product. A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

When we think of the 1950s, we may think of donning poodle skirts and saddle shoes and heading to the sock hop to dance to some Elvis.  But, it’s what we may NOT think of that we want to examine today…those ’50s fads and inventions that just didn’t quite catch on.

Here’s a list of our five favorite funky ’50s inventions:

1. Curved Barrel Machine Gun: The sleek, curved design of this fierce 1953 weapon allowed for shooting around corners!  It was perfect for taking the “fire first, look later” approach!  While it sounds pretty cool, we all may be a littler safer without this one!

2. Handwriting Game: As if repeatedly writing “I will not…” statements on the chalkboard wasn’t punishment enough, this engaging 1955 game challenged players to analyze each other’s handwriting!  I suppose practice makes perfect?

3. Venetian Blind Sunglasses: Kanye West may be trying to revive this trendy fad, but it certainly didn’t catch on when it was first introduced in 1950!  Though they seem to have no real practical purpose, I suppose they may good for only letting “some” UV rays in!

4.Honegar: All you “Man Vs. Food” fans actually may love this crazy concoction.  In 1959, Dr. DeForest C. Jarvis mixed together honey and vinegar in an effort to remedy minor aches and pains.  Hmmm… tempting, but I’ll stick with ibuprofen!

5. Vest Pocket Ash Tray, Rainy Day Cigarette Holder, Cigarette Holder Built for Two: We just couldn’t resist lumping these three ’50s inventions together.  They were perfect for “lighting up” with your lover on a rainy day and dropping the ashes in your vest!

For a look at these funky inventions, click here!

Now, we know we said our favorite five inventions, but hope this honorable mention doesn’t ruffle your feathers – pun intended!

The Sanitary Appliance for Birds, an undergarment designed to catch bird…. ummm, well you know…. received patent number 2,882,858 in 1959!  While it never really caught on, it is too bad all the birds of the world aren’t required to wear undergarments as they soar high above our heads!

Practical or not, these inventions bring a whole new meaning to the “Nifty Fifties!”