This fall brings exciting opportunities for many Davison-designed Hugs Pet Products items!  The Hydro Bone, Silicone Dog Treat Pan, Auto Dish and Pugz Shoes for Dogs were featured on last Monday’s Inventionland segment on the CBS “Early Show.”

Now, Hugs Pet Products’ entire current line, along with some awesome new items, are hitting the trade show circuit, which means big-time exposure across the nation!

One new product set to roll-out this fall is the Deluxe Dog Butler, an enhanced version of the previous Davison-designed Dog Butler.

Conveniently including everything needed for a relaxing walk in the park with a canine companion, the Deluxe Dog Butler includes an expandable bungee leash, designed to lessen the stress and strain on you, a storage compartment for treats to reward your pup and a flashlight holder for late-night walks.  It even includes 10 adorably-designed (and always necessary!) Potty Paws mitts to pick up after your four-legged friends!

According to Davison’s Vice-President of Licensing, the fall trade show circuit provides some awesome opportunities to present new and current products to some big-name national retailers.

“We are showing [the Deluxe Dog Butler], along with the entire line of Hugs Pet Products to Petco Wednesday in San Diego, Bed Bath & Beyond the following Wednesday in New York and at the Super Zoo trade show in Las Vegas, the week of September 13th,” said the VP.

It sounds like we may be seeing the Davison “D” on some more store shelves soon!  To follow the Licensing Team as they present innovative products around the nation, view the entire Trade Show schedule online at http://www.davison.com/tradeshows/.

Kudos to everyone who has worked on bringing the Deluxe Dog Butler (and all of our “D-lightful” items!) to trade shows, the marketplace…and beyond!

This corporate product was invented and licensed by Davison for its own benefit.

Another D-lightful product that we created for a client and that was licensed by Health Enterprises soon will be headed to CVS! Health Enterprises recently got the “green light from CVS” on the 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool, which will be sold under the “Portables, by Essence of Beauty” brand name.

“Congratulations to our client, Cathalene,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “Her dream is about to come true!”

The Design team quickly made two more prototypes for CVS, as the retailer, which has more then 7,000 stores, prepared to add the product to store shelves.

“We’ve been working on that one on and off for 2½ years, so I’m very glad it has finally found a home!” said Davison’s Corporate Creative Coach. “I think everyone on my team has touched it in one way or another.”

The full manicure set has a nail file, two-sided nail buffer, cuticle pusher, two-sided cleaning stick, nail brush and nail clippers. By combining six tools into one convenient, compact tool, it is perfect for enhancing nails anytime, anywhere! It also has a silicone, non-slip grip that is gentle on the fingers.

The 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool is expected to hit CVS stores in December… what a perfect stocking stuffer, and what a great gift for our client! Congratulations, Cathalene, and to everyone who worked on this awesome new product!

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

What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, makes a slinkity sound – and has made millions of dollars since it was invented in 1945?  The slinky, and other must-have toys and gadgets may be inexpensive to purchase, but continue to make their creators millions!  Today, we delve into our childhoods to explore the stories of 5 top toys that all started…with an idea!

The Slinky- Engineer Richard James and his wife, Betty, borrowed $500 to start production of this spiral-coiled success – which came from an idea Richard had aboard a World War II Naval ship, when a spring fell onto the floor and flip-flopped around, amusing him.  The James’ perfected the long, steel ribbon and Richard designed the machine that manufactured the 80-foot Slinky himself.  Although it took some persuading to get the Philadelphia department store, Gimbels, to market the toy – it sold out in 90 minutes!  Today, nearly 300-million Slinkys have sold…and, at $3.99 each, those sales add up…fast!

Pet Rock– Advertising executive Gary Dahl is the mastermind behind the $3.95 smiley-faced rock that made millions!  According to Dahl, the “pets” were created as a replacement for the hassle, mess and money of more-conventional pets, like cats and dogs.  His packaging even included a training manual with instructions on how to take care of, train and command the rocks!  Estimates show Dahl sold over 5 million pets in a six-month time period.

Koosh Balls– Originally invented to help his own children learn how to catch, engineer Scott Stillinger tied rubber bands together to make a soft ball that wouldn’t hurt their hands.  The name came from the “koosh” sound the ball made when it hit the ground.  Evolving from rubber bands, OddzOn, Stillinger’s company, says there are approximately 5,000 fibers that go into one ball!  The Koosh line included about 50 products in all, some of which are still on the market for only a few bucks!

Antenna Balls- While Jason Wall has “had a ball” with his invention, he has Jack to thank.  When Wall found out Jack in the Box had sold millions of “Jack” antenna balls, he got busy designing his own novelty creations.  Whether in the form of happy faces, cowgirls or sports logos, you’ve probably seen Wall’s designs as you’ve been out traveling.  With million-dollar sales since 1999, you may already have one on your own car!  If not, you can pick one up for about 4 bucks at your local gas station or convenience store!

Silly Bandz– A new trend for children of all ages, Robert Croak, the ingenious creator  of Silly Bandz, got his idea while on a Japanese business trip in 2002.  There, silicone bands were used as a more environmental-friendly option for rubber bands.  Croak, and his employer, BCP imports, transformed the office supplies into fashion must-haves by adding tons of shapes and colors.  First hitting the internet in 2008, Silly Bandz are now sold at over 8,000 locations nation-wide.  At around a couple bucks per pack, Croak says he’s shipping out millions of the bandz each week!  What’s even better – he’s selling them with NO advertising!  The buzz for the bandz is all on-line, and on the playground, of course!

So, whether these popular gadgets slink down the stairs, “koosh” against the ground or do nothing at all – they’re sure to bring a lot of fun to children of all ages – and a lot of “fun” money to their inventors!

While most of us are familiar with recent developments in the telephone industry, and may even carry the latest iPhone, Droid or Blackberry models, it is likely that few may know where these gadgets got their roots and just how far they’ve come through the years.

Over a century ago, in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell uttered the first words over what he called his “electrical speech machine.” Those words, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want you,” traveled only to his assistant who was working in the next room, but now resonate world-wide. Today, deemed National Telephone Day, we pause, if only momentarily, from sending those texts, updating our social media statuses or just checking news headlines, to recognize Bell’s legendary invention and how, with the help of many other inventors along the way, it has become so “smart!”

As the world reveled at the telephone’s initial capabilities, Bell went to work on several other inventions, including a flying machine and metal detector, to name just a couple. However, it didn’t take long for his electrical speech machine to evolve. Ten years after Bell patented his telephone, the first long-distance line was installed – it ran from New York to Philadelphia! Quickly following, William Gray invented the first pay phone, which was also installed in the U.S. Northeast.

While it may not be considered the first “picture message,” the first photograph was electronically transmitted in 1921. Bell’s invention went world-wide in 1935 when the first international call was placed. Mobile telephone service can be traced back to 1946, and originally linked vehicles to telephone networks through their radios; however, Martin Cooper, a British inventor, is credited with designing the first mobile phone in the 1970s. Caller ID originated in the 1980s, when faxing also gained popularity.

Advancing and evolving the mobile phone industry, 2G, or “second generation” service was introduced in the 1990s and allowed users to send SMS communications or text messages. The 2000s ushered in 3G service and, with that, the mobile internet craze. Today, 4G networks allow users to enjoy their fastest service yet.

So, over a century later and with the help of many talented inventors along the way, what’s next for Bell’s electrical speech machine? To 5G and beyond!

It started out as just an idea in the mind of our client, Ed. His dream for a better way to tether his dog has turned into a tangible product, which was licensed by Hugs Pet Products.

“It’s great to see, now that we’re getting direct feedback from the factory.” The Licensing VP also reported that “several large retailers are interested in the product.”

The Better Tether, formerly known as the Low-Pro, offers a more humane and convenient way to tether a dog outdoors — it provides a constant source of food and water that cannot be spilled and it never has to be moved for the lawnmower! The product had a great showing at the Global Pet Expo last month, and it will soon be on its way to market.

“Seeing actual factory tooling making something we created means a ton,” said Jason, Davison’s corporate design manager. “It’s great to see our creations come to life. But, most importantly, it means that someone besides us and our client believes in the product — so much so that they’re willing to go out and spend thousands of dollars ramping-up for production. It’s awesome! We’re all very excited to see the factory product!”

Check back here next week for the full story of our client, Ed, and how he came up with his awesome idea — you won’t want to miss it!

Many people know that Thomas Jefferson was the 3^rd president of the United States, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the founder of the University of Virginia, but not everyone associates him with being a successful inventor.

Jefferson created many well-known inventions such as the polygraph, the pedometer and the hideaway bed. Some of his most interesting inventions; however, are perhaps those that few have heard about. Check out a few of these inventions that are on display at the Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Moldboard of Least Resistance — A moldboard is the curved part of a plow that turns over the soil. Jefferson designed it so that it was light enough to be pulled by two small horses or mules with little effort. Because this was such a revolutionary invention at the time, France’s Society of Agriculture awarded him a gold metal for the design.

The Great Clock — This innovative clock was powered by two sets of cannonball-like weights that were eighteen pounds each. These weights drove its ticking noise and the gong that sound on the roof. The clock also revealed each day of the week and was wound every Sunday with a key to restart its weekly cycle. The Great Clock was designed by Jefferson; however, we must credit Peter Spruck for its development.

Spherical Sundial — Although original sundials are thought to have originated around 3500 B.C.,  Jefferson is credited to inventing the first spherical sundial — which was considered a novelty in its time. The horizontal lines were drawn for the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn. The vertical lines that extended from tropic to tropic represented the hours of the day — indicated by Roman numerals below the Tropic of Capricorn.

There is no doubt that Jefferson was a president that strived on innovation — his own inventions are great indicators of his this. There is no better time than on his birthday to recognize how important his life and accomplishments were to both the U.S. and the rest of the world.

We recently received samples of the much-anticipated Silicone Dessert Pans for Easter and Valentine’s Day. They did not disappoint, to say the least.

“The products look great; they turned out really nice. The packaging really makes it pop,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “They look fantastic; the packaging looks dynamite,” agreed the corporate design manager.

The Sweetheart Silicone Dessert Pan and Easter Egg Silicone Dessert Pan are selling in Montgomery Ward, where they join the original Dessert Bar Pan, invented by our client, Joseph.

XHP and the corporate team collaborated on the design and bounced ideas off each other to come up with the final results, said the design manager. Team members did the package design, product design, product engineering and packaging engineering.

The new holiday-themed dessert pans will be shown at the International Housewares Show in March along with our prototypes of holiday pans for Halloween (pumpkin), Thanksgiving (turkey) and Christmas (snowman, tree). In addition, there are many themed versions in the works for presentation to a corporation that is a giant in the entertainment industry.

“Now it’s a matter of seeing how many get picked up and what they want to take,” explained the VP.

Hopes on all sides are high, and depending on how well they do at the show, the possibilities are immense, said the design manager.

“It could really turn into something huge if it goes.” The possibilities for our client are also incredible, if buyers respond favorably, said the VP. “We have put our client in the best position possible.”

The Twirl-a-Ring is now selling in Pat Catan’s, as well as independent craft stores, such as Factory Direct Craft, Craft Town Hobby Land USA, Consumer Crafts and Sunshine Crafts. The innovative jump ring maker that we created for Darice also will be shown at the Crafts & Hobby Association show later this month, and the corporation plans to pitch the product to Jo-Ann’s and Michael’s for 2011.

“This is the first project that is selling on store shelves with Darice,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “It’s great to see and we look forward to many more with Darice!!”

The Twirl-a-Ring is on the shelves of approximately 20 Pat Catan stores throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The retailer, which is owned by Darice, features a huge array of jewelry making and other crafting supplies.

A Davison corporate designer drew upon his own experience making jewelry to design the unique three-stage mandrel, which can make three sizes of jump rings with one convenient tool, saving time, effort and money. A jump ring is a small, wire ring used to link elements of jewelry. The one-piece unit is easily machinable, works with any drill and solves a common problem, said the designer. Other members of the corporate team provided the engineering, graphic design and packaging engineering. This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

Check out the newest addition in the crafts category to our product pages!

The good news about the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, which we developed for our client, Joseph, just keeps coming in. The manufacturer reported that the pan is “selling very well at retail.” The product will be featured on QVC in October, and it is already in a “full roll out” at Hobby Lobby, Kitchen Collections, Brylane Home, Miles Kimball, Bimart and it was just picked up by Bed, Bath & Beyond! Versions of the pan for holiday-themed treats are also in the works for next year — And to think it all started with a husband who likes chewy brownies! 

Inventor’s Story:
Joseph has always loved brownies with a chewy edge, so much so that he used to slice a pan of brownies before it was finished baking so all the squares would have edges. His wife did not appreciate that and told him so. “She yelled at me,” he recalls, laughing.

The EMS pilot wondered if he could invent an “all edge” brownie pan to keep peace in the family and give him a whole pan full of chewy brownies. He first came up with the idea about 20 years ago when he was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps. A fellow Marine and friend had spent a “huge amount of money” patenting a new product idea, however, so Joseph didn’t think developing his was an option. He thought that was just the way it was done.

“I really didn’t have any desire (to pursue it) because of what I perceived about the cost,” he said. Several years later, however, he submitted his idea to Davison, and the work began. “They did some modifications to my pan design which I actually thought was an improvement.”

In October, his product will air on QVC, the nation’s most popular home shopping network. In addition, the manufacturer is expanding the product to an entire line of silicone bakeware for holiday-themed treats, including pans for Valentine’s Day and Easter, which will hit the stores in early 2011! Variations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are also in the works.

During the design process, the product evolved from a metal pan to silicone bakeware that remains cool to the touch and bends for easy removal of items after baking; a rigid frame molded into the perimeter makes the pan safe to carry. The 12 candy-bar shaped molds can be filled with brownie batter, Rice Krispie treats, cookie dough, and more – and all the treats come out with four chewy edges.

It took about three years to find a manufacturer, but the first-time inventor decided to keep going, despite the setbacks. 

“It is an emotional roller coaster; up and down,” said Joseph, who can’t wait to see his product on national TV.

“Joseph had his share of struggles along the way, but he never gave up,” said George Davison. “We couldn’t be happier for him and his family.”

Joseph’s father, also a Marine veteran, thought he was a bit foolish for pursuing and investing in his idea over the years; then his son gave him a box from Davison with his packaged product inside.

Joseph recalls, “When he saw the pan and after I told him it would be in stores and on QVC he was quite surprised, and he did change his tone!”

 The client has not realized a net profit on his product.

The Davison “D” continues to make its mark in BB&B. The Water Infuser and Packet Rack, both of which came out of a brainstorming meeting with Jokari in early 2009, are being tested in select Bed, Bath & Beyond stores! “We did it all – the design work, the engineering – start to finish,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “They turned out nice.”

The creative coach of special operations and his team brainstormed the design of both products. The coach designed the Water Infuser, a “spotlight” item in Jokari’s “healthy steps” line. It is the first product in stores from the wellness line that we are developing for the company.

The Water Infuser’s hinged sphere opens so it can hold pieces of fruit, vegetables and herbs, such as lemon, cucumber, strawberries or mint. The sphere is then placed in a pitcher and, through small slits in the plastic, the water or tea is infused with natural flavors, offering a healthy and inexpensive alternative to sodas, sugary fruit drinks and bottled water.

“They made a few changes at the factory, but for the most part it looks the same,” said the designer.

The Packet Rack, which is also on Jokari.com, is the result of the company’s challenge to find a solution to the problem of neatly storing multiple packets of seasoning and mixes. During the brainstorming session, one member of the team “had a moment of genius,” said his manager, and came up with the idea of pinching packets in a spring.

“Everyone kind of looked at me,” said the designer, who then proved his concept with a spring from the build line. “I got a few laughs … until I showed them. This is one of those things where you take an everyday item and design it for a different use.”

Jokari “really liked the idea,” and the product evolved into a row of small springs on a base that mounts to the inside of a cabinet. To use, simply press upward on the spring, insert the top of a packet into the opening, then let go and the packet is secured.

“We showed it to them and they only came back with a couple of tweaks,” said the corporate design manager, who is, once again, very pleased with the performance of his team.

Congratulations to everyone who worked on these great new products! We won’t be surprised if they both get an A+ on their test!