While technology and popular media may have us believing that Apple’s iPhone is an invention we simply can’t live without, experts say there are much more elementary items that may be far more influential.  Those items include elastic bands, bubble wrap and, oh, yes… the paper clip.

In fact, scientists have said that it’s the items that cost mere pennies that we would be lost without.  They may not be as celebrated as the latest SmartPhone, PC tablet or other fancy gadgets, but have you ever used your iPhone to keep your desk clean?! 

According to Hi-Cone Director Ton Hoppenbrouwers, it’s the simple little inventions that are the “hidden heroes.”

“Whether the products hang our clothes, make tea or hold a six-pack, they are indispensable to consumers… They are design classics, which do their job brilliantly,” said Hoppenbrouwers.

By the way, Hi-Cone is the maker of those plastic ring carriers that ever-so-faithfully hold together your six-packs of beer and soda!

Also according to Hoppenbrouwers, like the evolution of the cell phone, these seemingly elementary inventions do evolve to meet society’s changing needs.

“Yes, they evolve to meet changing needs, but they do not change dramatically,” said Hoppenbrouwers.

Think tea bag and K-cup, pencil and mechanical pencil…  and for the day, appreciate the simple things around you, like your light bulbs, pencils and bubble wrap.  But, please, don’t try to play Words With Friends with your paper clips!  

Read more about the simple things we just couldn’t live without here!

Recently, we announced that our client, Jean’s, Meatball Baker, which offers a healthy alternative to greasy meatballs, was featured in the most recent Avon catalog and at shopavon.com.

It turns out, that great news was just the first bit of excitement the Meatball Baker has been cooking up lately!  Nearly as soon as we heard that our “Meatball Queen” Became an “Avon Lady,” the Meatball Baker was back at it!

This time, it was Good Morning America’s (GMA) ”Secret Steals and Deals” website that featured the Meatball Baker – and for 60% off at that!  For 48 hours, interested cooks everywhere could purchase the Meatball Baker for $8.80!

GMA also published an accompanying article called “Mom Inventions: Exclusive Deals and Steals, Just for ‘GMA’ Viewers,” which commended our client, Jean, on her invention.

“Mom/grandmother inventor “Jean the Meatball Queen” partnered with Davison, a new-products development company, to develop this rack that holds small, medium and extra-large meatballs letting all the fat drain into the bottom of baker,” the article stated.

We couldn’t wait to be the first to tell Jean the great news either!

“To be truthful, I am not much of a TV watcher, so I really never heard of it until you just told me about it.  I do like the publicity though,” said Jean.   Jean expressed how happy she was about all the exposure her Meatball Baker has received and said she, sometimes, is still in disbelief!

“At times, it is still hard to believe that my idea has truly came to life.  I am seeing my idea used in other ways too, meaning I have seen my pan duplicated with just a change in the handle at a Farm & Fleet store in Eau Claire, Wi.  I have also seen the meatloaf pan where the grease drains through a grid for a healthier meal.  So, I look at it as my idea must have been a good one, if it is being used in all sorts of ways,” said Jean.

As for the possibility of her invention being in the news even more?

“The press can talk about my pan all they want,” said Jean. 

Speaking of great press for Davison-designed products, we also found the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan on a Bed Bath & Beyond advertisement on the NBC Today Show website!

What will be the next Davison-designed product we find out there?  We can’t wait to see!

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

We knew when our client, “Jean, Jean – the Meatball Queen,” came to us with her idea for a way to make healthier, less-greasy meatballs, she was definitely on to something.

Now, we’re finding out just how “on” she was… Jean is AVON!  Well, at least her Meatball Baker is!

That’s right, in the most recent Avon catalog and on Avon online, the Davison-designed Meatball Baker is selling for $24.99!

According to “the company for women,” the Meatball Baker is “a healthier alternative to making yummy meatballs!”

While we all know the Meatball Baker, which was licensed by Xtraordinary Home Products, is a great tool for both male and female cooks, we couldn’t agree more that it is the perfect way to make delicious meatballs!   

You may recall, this is not the first time Jean has “made it big” with the Meatball Baker.  When Inventionland was featured on CBS’ The Early Show in August, Jean was also featured in the interactive segment that showed her and her product in action!

Congratulations to Jean and the entire team that has worked so hard on her Meatball Baker idea!  We can’t wait to see where that Davison “D” appears next!

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

While you were out and about shopping this holiday season, it is very likely that you may have seen that Davison “D” on store shelves… or online… or in your MAILBOX?!

That’s right, the adorable Davison-designed Pugz Shoes for Dogs were featured in Bed Bath & Beyond’s holiday mailer!  In a section called “Gifts Fur Them,” the doggie boots were advertised for $19.99!  You can also find them at Bed Bath & Beyond online, here!

While that is quite the “steal,” Meijer.com again featured Pugz as “Today’s Big Steal” in early December!  (You may remember, they also featured Pugz as the daily steal in November!)

The Meijer website featured the boots at 53% off, or a whopping $13.99!

 You can bet that with all these great deals, Pugz are flying off store shelves and onto the feet of four-legged friends everywhere!  We’ve posted a video below of Cocoa, an adorable pup that’s modeling Pugz!  

 And, oh, are there more… visit the links below to watch more adorable pups in Pugz!

Gracie — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tioFyhj2U4
Noah –  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=035aofBsBm

We’ve recently received “paws-itively” great news about some innovative Davison-designed booties!  Pugz Shoes for Dogs have been marching their way on and off of store shelves, into the homes of happy, happy customers!

In fact, Bed Bath & Beyond, who added the adorable faux leather and faux wool boots to their line-up this fall, can’t keep enough pairs on the shelves; so, they’ve placed orders for additional supplies!

And, thanks to members of our Licensing and Sales teams, we’ve got some awesome proof at a couple stores across the nation, too!

While at a trade show this fall, our Vice President of Licensing sent us a few pictures from a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Chicago!  Look at that awesome end-shelf placement!  From the looks of the display, several customers already have had their paws on the puppy shoes, which we designed for our client, Kay!

A Managing Senior Director of New Products found some Pugz at a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Pittsburgh.  If they’re in Chicago and Pittsburgh, they may be right in your backyard; so, if you’ve got a puppy who’s made Santa’s “Nice” list this year, pick some up!

Even greater news for these comfy kicks, Bed Bath & Beyond isn’t the only retailer “begging” for the booties!  Petco representatives have expressed interest in increasing their orders, too!

Plus, Pugz recently were featured as the ”Big Steal” on meijer.com!  The site featured the regularly-priced $29.99 shoes at a whopping 40% off for the day!

It is so exciting to see the big moves these little shoes are making!  Congrats to everyone who’s worked on Pugz and special thanks to our Davison team members who spotted the Davison “D” while they were out and about!

Look for more updates on Pugz and other Davison designs in the coming weeks!

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

We’ve got D-licious news about some Davison-designed bakeware that has landed on new store shelves! 

Chicago Metallic’s Cupcake Surprise Pan can be found on the shelves, in the catalog and on the website of Sur La Table!  If you’re not familiar with the store, it boasts of selling ”quality tools that set the standard for excellence in the industry.”

Without a doubt, the Cupcake Surprise Pan fits that bill!

The pan, which allows you to bake sweet treats with a surprise-filled center, has already been available at Bed Bath & Beyond, on QVC, at Amazon.com and at other stores.  Now, we can add Sur La Table to our ever-growing list of over 1,000 retailers that carry Davison designs!  

So, how do you use this D-lightful pan?  Simply place your favorite filling on the center spike of each cupcake mold,  fill with batter and bake!

And, oh, so many tasty options!  Fill the pan with cherries, coconut, chocolate, peanut butter, pineapple, cookie dough, strawberries… just about anything! 

While you’re enjoying your “secret snack,” thank Mr. Davison and his team for all that deliciousness.  The Surprise Pan, which is sure to satisfy any sweet craving, is just another example of a successful Davison-designed product that is showing the power of teamwork! 

Congratulations to everyone who had a hand in helping create this success-filled Surprise Pan and to everyone who helped launch the product to new store shelves!

 A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.  This corporate product was invented and licensed by Davison for its own benefit.

With the latest Davison-designed bakeware, your cup can runneth over, literally!

Check out these awesome, new Silicone Cookie Bowls being designed for Xtraordinary Home Products: 

Currently being produced in festive pumpkin and heart shapes, the cookie bowls can be filled with fruit, pudding, ice cream… just about anything delicious!

According to our Vice President of Licensing, the bowls are just the latest Davison client product that is turning into an entire line!

“The cookie bowls started with the original round version and [are] now taking a similar path as the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, by branching off into holiday themes.  Look for the product to air on QVC in the first quarter of 2012,” said our Vice President of Licensing.

We can’t wait to see what delicious shapes we can fill up and devour next!  Congratulations to everyone who has worked on this D-licious designs!

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

Just in time for the holiday season, bird is the word for the latest spin-off of a Davison-designed cooking item.  The Silicone Dessert Bar Pan is now talkin’ turkey!

At an industry trade show in July, XHP President Scott Nicholson predicted the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan would have a “great line-up for the future.”  That prediction included a certain silicone bake pan shaped like a turkey and… that prediction is now coming true!

Originally, our client, Joseph, came to us with an idea for a brownie pan that would allow soft, chewy edges on every brownie.  Working with Joseph, our design team created the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, which quickly became a runaway success, selling on QVC and in stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Kitchen Collection.

According to our Vice President of Licensing, the Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil is the latest spin-off of the popular Davison-designed product.

“It’s another item [for] our client, Joseph, and continues his success story of how one product can change the game,” said the Vice President of Licensing.

Following the initial success of Joseph’s Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, holiday and Disney-themed pans quickly followed.

Perched with a bird’s-eye-view from store shelves this fall, the silicone Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil provides a fun, new way to personalize holiday treats for family and friends.

Currently, the Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil is available at Amazon.com, Sur La Table and at Chicago Metallic online.

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

Stretching our paws in the doggie door with the Silicone Dog Treat Pan, we’re happy to report that that you may be seeing some Davison-designed edible doggie supplies on store shelves soon!

That’s right, now pet owners can fill up their bone-shaped treat pan with Doggie D’Lites cake and frosting mixes.

These D-licious dog treat mixes come in three varieties:  Carob (similar to chocolate, but safe for dogs!), Peanut Butter and Banana!

According to our Vice President of Licensing, they’re a first for both Davison and for Hugs Pet Products.

“We are entering the consumable market with Hugs,” said our VP.

While we can’t say we’d love to sample the cakes (though, they do look tasty), we’d love to share them with our four-legged friends!

Congratulations to the entire team that has worked on Doggie D’Lites!  Stay tuned for more news on this and other exciting upcoming Davison-designed products!

This was a corporate product designed for Davison’s own profit.

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.