Petside.com – an NBC Universal company that covers pet health, behavior, lifestyle and trends, highlighting the joys and challenges of having pets by serving up current, topical content from around the pet care world – featured Davison’s Hydro Bone in its “9 Products to Keep Your Pet Cool” article.

Petside’s Charlotte Reed writes, “Combining fun and chewing-refreshment, the Hydro Bone is the ultimate hydrating chew toy for your pet. The molded dog toy has a foam core, which absorbs and holds liquid. Simply soak the Hydro Bone in water and it slowly releases water to quench your dog’s thirst and keep [him or] her hydrated as [he or] she plays. The Hydro Bone is also freezable for lasting enjoyment.”

The Hydro Bone was created by a dog lover, who knew there had to be a better way to keep her puppy hydrated while in the car. Diane DiRaimo loved taking her Japanese Chin puppy Alexander James for rides, but she had a hard time keeping him hydrated and happy on long trips. She knew putting a water bowl in the car or feeding him out of a water bottle was out of the question… but, she thought, surely there must be a better way to provide Alexander with on-the-spot refreshment!

Dogs need water, and dogs love bones, right? So Diane brought her idea for a hydrating bone to Davison, where fellow animal lover and Creationeer, Curtis, and his creative team, got to work on helping Diane’s idea soak up success, creating an absorbent chew toy with a foam core.

The Hydro Bone, which was selected as a Dog Fancy Editor’s Choice Winner, comes in three sizes, for dogs and puppies six weeks and older. The water-holding toy combines refreshment with fun, so it quenches your dog’s thirst while playing. When soaked, the molded rubber bone’s foam core absorbs water (just like a sponge), which is then released through specially designed holes as the toy is squeezed. The durable Hydro Bone is also freezable for lasting refreshment and cooling.

Congratulations to Diane and the Davison team for whetting the appetites of national pet pundits!

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

Some of the toughest critics have chosen to put a Davison-designed product to the test.  This time it was a reader from Ingredient, “a magazine for kids curious about food,” who did a slice-by-slice examination of The Original Perfect Pizza Pan.

You may recall, the Perfect Pizza Pan was invented by none other than our President… when he was a client!  And, the rest, is well… history!

So, how did the Perfect Pizza Pan, which allows you to customize every slice of pizza, “pan” out, when Bridget in Minnesota put it to the test?

According to Bridget, the pan was easy to use and it worked on the first try, making it great for anyone who likes pizza – and who doesn’t like pizza?!

She also summed it up, saying, “Kids love it.  Adults have hardly any clean up and so, it’s fun for the whole family!”

And, we couldn’t agree more!  Congratulations to our inventor-President and everyone who worked on this exceptional product!

Read Bridget’s entire review by clicking here.

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

So, you know the client-inspired, Davison-designed, Health Enterprise-licensed TheraPED has recently been featured on various blogs and in TOMI magazine. Now, we’ve learned that the innovative spa-therapy product is going to be next to country music royalty!

That’s right, the TheraPED has been selected as one of the exclusive items to be included in the gift bags given to artists who perform during the 45th Annual CMA Awards on November 9th!

Health Enterprises President Brendan Leonard shared the exciting news with us and said he hopes country’s leading ladies pamper themselves with the fashionable, refreshing products.

“We hope the female recipients have an opportunity to relax and enjoy TheraPED’s soothing relief after the show,” Leonard said.

We’d have to agree with Kenny Chesney, we can’t wait to see their refreshed feet and “toes in the sand,” thanks to these awesome Davison-designed products!

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.

We’ve all seen the bright, yellow buses… kids are back in school and the air is slowly getting a little colder, which can only mean a couple things… summer is over and FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!

To make sure we’re all ready for some football in time for kick-off, we’ve compiled a list of the latest, most innovative tailgating must-haves out – that you can get for under $100!

First up, the Portable X-Grill!  Further proving just how far the charcoal grill has come, this 11-pound fold-up grill is complete with a charcoal grate and convenient carrying-tote!  Even better, this grill won’t break your back or your bank!  It’s only $49 through garden.com.

And, if you need to make some special burgers for this fun grill, then why not bring along the Davison-designed Fill n’ Grill!  The Fill ‘N Grill makes filling burger patties with flavorful ingredients (cheese, bacon, onions, sauce, and so much more) quick and mess-free – not to mention D-licious!  With the help of this grilling favorite, your patties are sure to be the talk of the football tailgate!

If you’d like to knock off two items in one,  the Buccaneer Cooler and Barbecue Set includes a BBQ grill, lid and cooking utensils inside a removable, insulated cooling tote!  The only thing this gear is missing is the food and beverages!  Sliding onto the list at just under $100, this is one tailgating must-have you won’t want to be without!

Hang on to summer a little longer and kick your tailgate party into high gear, with the Waring Tailgater Portable Blender!  With a 15-foot AC adapter that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter, the multi-functional blender will help you serve up pina coladas and daiquiris or just keep your beverages cool with some freshly-crushed ice!  It’s in stores and online for about $75!

For a little protection from the elements, don’t forget a compact, Instant Canopy!  Most of them set up in minutes  – but will provide hours of protection against sun or rain!  They’ll protect 6-10 tailgaters comfortably and are small enough to fold up into most trunks!  They retail for about $80 – but their uses are, well… priceless!

When you’re eating delicious pre-game goodies and drinking tasty, ice-cold beverages, it’s inevitable, Mother Nature WILL come a-calling!  Thus, the Passport Potty saves the day, providing a clean, full-flushing answer to needing to run to the port-a-potty every 10 minutes!  Retailing for around $70 online, the only thing the Passport Potty doesn’t provide?  Privacy!

Now, for those who are truly dedicated to their teams and ready to tailgate through the entire season, this product may be the key for keeping you toasty, even on the coldest of days!  The Temp-a-chair portable, heated chair will warm you up for about four hours and it’s equipped with a car charger for even longer-lasting comfort!  The temp-a-chair includes a convenient cup-holder and weighs only nine pounds… for under $100, it’s a must-have you may even try to take into the game!

Well, we’ve got most of the gear covered… now, we’ll leave the cooking to you!

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.

Two Davison-designed spa-therapy products are about to “unleash” their wild-sides on new store shelves! The animal-printed TheraPED and TheraTOES, which provide soothing relief for sore feet and toes, are heading to Fred’s Super Dollar and, soon, may be hitting the shelves at Sally Beauty Supply as well.

The new orders also warranted a few package improvements for the products. The updated features include small design changes to improve on-shelf stability and slight changes to package wording.

While the TheraPED and TheraTOES are currently licensed by Health Enterprises and are sure to be enjoyed by many consumers with sore feet, according to Davison’s Managing Senior Director of Licensing, like many Davison-designed products, the TheraPED was born out of client necessity.

“I had worked with [our client] Lennell on her ‘cooling sock’ idea for over three years.  She has MS and has limited mobility. She suffers from ‘hot feet’ due to her illness and wanted something to cool her feet down,” said the Managing Senior Director.

Not only does the TheraPED offer cooling therapy, it’s designed with multi-functional gel pads that also provide moist heat for the top, sides and bottom of feet. Excitement over the finished product was infectious!

“I was so excited when I heard [Lennell’s] voice again and got to tell her the licensing department had good news! She was so excited to hear that her product was licensed and [Davison's Vice President of Licensing] sent her a couple pairs to prove it. She has thanked everyone at Davison for their commitment to her idea and is thankful for the outcome,” said Davison’s Managing Senior Director of Licensing.

See Lennell’s excited reaction in the smartphone video she sent below:

Now, thanks to Health Enterprises, who licensed Lennell’s product, the TheraPED, and their own TheraTOES, are taking on a trendy look for fall fashion. Already available in a hot zebra print, they are soon to be available in other fun, animal prints as well.

And, we’re growling with excitement too as the Davison-designed TheraPED and TheraTOES hit more and more store shelves! Congratulations to every team member who has helped make these GGGRRRReat products so wildly successful!

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.



Now that the summer season is underway and we’ve all enjoyed some delicious grilled burgers, dogs, chicken, veggies and more, we pay tribute to the many inventors who’ve worked so hard to allow us to enjoy these savory treats – and with such ease!

Technically, one could say that grilling dates back to the domestication of fire, hundreds of thousands of years ago.  And, possibly campfire grilling is a bit reminiscent of those early grilled feasts.  So, how has grilling gone from the campfire to the backyard, poolside, deck-side and, even inside?

Perhaps an invention before it’s time, a Pennsylvania man, Ellsworth Zwoyer, patented the design for the first charcoal briquette in 1897.  Not very practical to produce, it was Model-T inventor (and Mr. D’s hero), Henry Ford, and a relative, E.G. Kingsford, who brought the briquette into commercial production and made it profitable.  As we all know, Kingsford charcoal remains popular today.

Putting those briquettes to good use, military men, returning from World War II, began moving their families to U.S. suburbs with more outdoor space and experimenting with outdoor activities… like outdoor cooking!

Up first was Swedish inventor, Hikmet Kuran’s brazier grill, an open-air, charcoal grill that actually made outdoor cooking quite dangerous and often left foods burnt on the outside and raw on the inside – just the way some of us lovingly refer to as “Pittsburgh-style!”

Next, a Chicago metalworker at Weber Brothers Metal Spinning Company, George Stephen, designed a more modernized grill by adding a grate and vents to a harbor buoy he cut in half.  With that, the Weber grill was born!

Gas grills followed, when William Wepfer and Melton Lancaster, who worked for an Arkansas power company, were charged with finding a way to raise natural gas sales.  The pair redesigned a charcoal grill to work with gas instead.  Today, gas grills run on propane as well.

For those rainy, or snowy, days, George Foreman introduced his electric grilling station in 1994 and brought grilled goodness from the poolside to inside!

Finally, let’s not forget those Davison-designed products that contribute to a great cook-out, like the Fill ‘N Grill, Burger Maker and Slider Maker – just to name a few! This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

No matter which way you slice it (the brisket or pork BBQ that is), we owe a big burger-sized thank you to all the inventors who’ve helped bring grilling to where it is today!  Now, who’s hungry?!

We never get tired of seeing it — the Dog Wash is featured in the latest In the Company of Dogs catalog. The summer preview issue shows the Dog Wash as modeled by a very content Labrador retriever, and the caption, “Bath time made easy,” says it all! That is what our client, Gary, was thinking when he came up with his idea, and that is exactly what we delivered when we designed and developed the Dog Wash and presented it to Hugs Pet Products for licensing. Being a regular feature in the catalog is more great news for Hugs, for Davison and for our client. If you go to the product page you’ll see this award-winning product has now sold in 60 stores! And if you haven’t seen it before, while you’re there check out our client’s awesome testimonial!

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

It’s been less than two months since we announced that Davison products have sold in more than 900 stores. To our surprise, we’ve continued to add retailers at a fast and often incredible rate, and our total store count is almost at 1,000 (+990)!

This is due to the many new products we’ve designed and brought to market.  One recent example is the innovative Air Rack. This inflatable roof rack is now selling in TimBr Mart, Canada’s largest dealer-owned building materials buying group!

But that’s not all… we are in the process of adding numerous Swingers by Swing Away — the line of super-innovative collapsing kitchen utensils that we created for Xtraordinary Home Products (XHP).  Many more have just hit the market – totally 19 products in all.

Another fresh Davison product that hit the ever evolving marketplace is the Fill N’ Grill, which sold on QVC.  We are ecstatic to report that the Fill N’ Grill sold out of 3,000 units in just three minutes!  The Fill N’ Grill stuffed burger maker is a product that we created for XHP.  It’s a quick and easy way to fill a burger with your favorite ingredients.

Davison and Hugs Pet Products continue to produce exciting, new pet toys for the market.  Hugs recently introduced the Hydro Ball and Hydro Saucer, which joins the Hydro Bone  in an awesome and innovative line of toys for your dog.  You can find all three of these on the Hugs website and at a Sam’s Club or Bed, Bath and Beyond near you!

Major retailers that now carry the Davison “D” include Busy Beaver and Ritz Camera, both of which began selling the fun and convenient Party Traveler; TJ Maxx and Marshalls now sell the Hydro Bone and Costco Canada recently picked up the Aviva Cosmic Slide.  We are very excited to add these well-known retailers to our long list!

We’ve also added many niche-oriented e-commerce retailers selling the line of Hot/Cold Therapy Braces we designed for Health Enterprises, and niche-oriented online kitchen stores selling the Healthy Steps portion control utensils (we just added the Single Serve Water Infusers) and kitchen gadgets that we conceived in collaboration with Jokari.  We even found a few new online shops selling the Twister Caps/Bolts!

Next stop — The BIG 1,000!