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!

Your summer vacation may be approaching pretty fast, so what are you going to do for hours while you’re on the beach? Play with the sand, of course! You’re never too old to indulge in a little creative fun in the sand!

Below, we’ve featured five modern tools to get you started, along with five patents for beach toys from long ago. Apparently, idea people have long been at work finding ways to make playing in the sand even more fun!

1.  Shovel & Pail – They’re classic staples for any day at the beach! Plus, they come in so many different colors and styles, everyone is sure to find a favorite!

2.  Sand Water Park Set - It may not be a toy that is usually seen on the beach, but it quickly will become your favorite when you’re able to create your own personal water park out of any sand structure you build!

3.  Seashell Collecting Bags – While you’re digging around in the sand, you’re sure to find something you’ll want to keep – so, why not tote it home in a decorative bag? Plain plastic bags? No way!

4.  Sandcastle Building Kit – With these handy aids, you’re sure to build the perfect sandcastle! They’ve got tools and molds that will make your castle the envy of everyone on the beach!

5.  Sand Station – For an even more relaxing day at the beach, let the station’s gears move any unwanted sand out of your way!

So, we all know and love these modern toys, but where did they come from? All ideas have to start somewhere, and beach toys are no exception! Here are five original beach toy patents that may make you rethink what you would be playing with in the sand, if these toys had caught on!

Click on the photos for more information on each patent!

1.  In 1915, a woman named Grace Strong had the idea to make sand pails in animal shapes. This is one invention that very well could still catch on today!  We did go through a Silly Bandz craze didn’t we? Anything could happen!

2.  Similar to the modern Sand Station, this patent does almost the same thing, but manages to look about 100 times more complex! Albert Duffield invented this toy and it was patented in 1916. Could you imagine taking this in your beach bag?

3.  With this contraption, there would be no need to manually move sand ever again! This Sand Grabber would make your sandcastle building process go much faster, if only it was on the market today!

4.  This version of the Sand Station is much fancier, but still has the same concept. The sand goes in to the funnel, then filters out onto the paddle wheel, which makes it spin. It may not be practical, but it sure looks cool!

5.  Last but not least is this spin on the sand shovel. It’s meant to look like a regular soda bottle, but when you open it up, it becomes a very useful beach toy! It really could come in handy on a hot day at the beach – if you could fill it with cold soda!

These older patents might seem a little crazy now, but imagine where the beach toys we know today would be without them. So, next time you’re digging in the sand at the beach, keep in mind what tools you could be using!

As we all prepare to celebrate our independence this 4th of July weekend, let’s take a minute to celebrate 4 of our own Davison-designed summer BBQ favorites.  They’re sure to put the perfect touch on your holiday picnic plans!

Fill ‘N Grill
Wow your guests with gourmet burgers!  Just like it sounds, the Fill ‘N Grill makes filling burger patties with flavorful ingredients quick and mess-free – not to mention delicious!  With the help of this grilling favorite, your patties are sure to be the talk of the picnic! Learn more… This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

Silicone Dessert Bar Pan
Your family and friends will be in for a pleasant surprise when they bite into one of your chewy, dessert treats!  The Silicone Dessert Bar Pan’s 12 candy-bar shaped molds can be filled with brownie batter, Rice Krispie treats or cookie dough.  Each piece comes out perfect!  An added perk for the chef, unlike metal bake-ware, the pan is flexible and remains cool to the touch! Learn more…

Party On The Go
If you’re not hosting this year’s 4th fun, take your treats along with the Party On The Go, a versatile food caddy that can hold eggs, cupcakes, veggies, cookies and much more!  The transparent locking-lid not only showcases your goodies, but also makes for easy, lightweight travel and storage! Learn more…

Bether Tether
Let’s not forget Fido!  Of course, our precious pets want to be a part of the fun, too!  With this unique product that sits below ground level, Fido is able to stay tethered outside during the picnic without spilling his food and water.  Plus, guests will never have to worry about tripping over the doggie dish! Learn more…

Whether you’re celebrating your freedom with family, friends, food or fireworks – we hope you all have a safe, restful 4th of July weekend!

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?!