If you’re working on an invention idea or product improvement, studying how everyday products changed can help you spot opportunities, refine features, and create a more practical solution.

Where do some inventors get the inspiration they need in order to revolutionize a product? The simple answer would be nature. Nature has solved most of the problems we face with evolution over the years. While most products change many times between concept and production, occasionally a product makes it all the way to market before it’s changed, looking nothing like the original product. These are just a few examples of how some items we now know and love had a bit of a rocky (and sometimes dangerous) start.

THE PLAYPEN

You’ve probably seen a photo like the one above depicting a toddler sitting in a cage hanging from a window. This cage is attached to an apartment window in the city, with only a few wires and handles keeping the cage secure. Baby cages were a way to give babies fresh air in the city without making parents (gasp!) take their kids outside. Eventually, however, safety concerns caused the baby cage to lose popularity. The concept was retooled to use wood instead of metal, have a soft floor, and (thankfully) only be used on the ground. These versions are still in use today, now called playpens.

THE TOASTER

As long as there’s been fire, there have been people cooking over it. Toasting items over flames has remained a popular pastime–if the enduring legacy of toast is anything to go by. Originally, toast was made by placing bread on long forks and holding it over an open flame or grill. The first electric toaster would place the bread against a heating mechanism on one side, requiring the cook to manually turn it once it reached the desired doneness. It wasn’t until the early 20^th century that a toaster was developed that toasted both sides of the bread at the same time.

PLAY-DOH

The popular molding dough for kids was originally marketed with the slogan “Good, Clean Fun!” This is no accident. Play-Doh began life as Kutol Products’ wallpaper cleaner: a mixture of water, salt, and flour. Cleo and Noah McVicker first introduced the cleaner in 1933 and Cleo’s son Joseph saw how students were using the compound as modeling clay in 1955. The following year, Rainbow Crafts (a subsidiary of Kutol) was established with their trademark product, Play-Doh.

THE VACUUM

Imagine a vacuum so large it required a horse-drawn wagon to move. This was the reality with the 19^th century’s first “portable” vacuum. Unlike its predecessors, which were powered by hand, this behemoth used a motor and gasoline. A truly portable vacuum was introduced in the 20^th century, once again powered by hand. These units were soon electrified by James Spangler, with disposable filter bags following in time. Bags and the traditional upright, cylindrical design wouldn’t last long, however. Now we don’t even need to manually operate our vacuums. The Roomba can find the mess and clean it up without human interaction–until it’s time to empty it.

THE FRISBEE

A favorite of college kids and beach-going families alike, the Frisbee wasn’t always the flying disc we use each summer. The disc itself was invented in 1871 by William Frisbie, owner of the Frisbie Pie Company. Students at the university nearby would throw the empty pie tins, yelling “Frisbie!” to warn others to catch it. Wham-O, the same company behind the Hula Hoop, later rebranded their existing Flying Saucer toy to “Frisbee,” an homage (albeit misspelled) of the pie company’s name.

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1) Factory or Outsourcing?

When you’re looking for an invention company, one of the most important things to check is whether the company will be building your invention in-house or whether it will be outsourced. A lot of invention building companies tend to outsource the bulk of the building work to a factory across the country and sometimes even across the world. They typically do this to save money on production costs, which may make them seem appealing as the cost will likely be lower for you as well. But this savings comes at a price.

Companies that outsource tend to be less customer-service friendly as there will be a constant back and forth between the customer, the sales company, and the outsourced production company. This means if you have a question or concern, it will likely take days or even weeks for the company to get back to you with an answer. And, because the company itself isn’t directly overseeing the invention process, there can be a ‘telephone effect’ where you tell this company what you want and then, when they communicate it second-hand, it doesn’t result in the outcome you expected. As a general rule, look for a company that does its inventing work in-house.

2) Getting products in store and on shelves

Another important thing to look at is a company’s ability to get inventions on the shelves of stores. Once you’re finished going through the actual production process, a lot of product development companies will leave you high and dry. Many may be able to create your invention, but there are very few that will help you with what comes after the invention is completed. Those next steps can be scary and difficult to navigate. When you’re looking for a company to build your invention, see what they can do to help you in the next steps.

3) Prototyping

When you’re choosing a product development company, have them take you through their process from signed contract to the completed invention. It’s important to make sure they’ve included one crucial step: Prototyping. For those unfamiliar, prototyping is the step in which one makes an early sample or model of a product or invention to act as an example or something to be learned from. This step is crucial because it’s the time to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Without this step, your invention will likely not look or function as you envisioned it.

4) Customer Service

This is another aspect to keep in mind as you’re having a company walk through their product development system. It’s important to know how heavily involved you’ll be in their process. Ideally, you’ll work with a company that involves you in the procedure each step of the way, rather than a company with a more hands-off approach. If the company isn’t willing to take the time to talk with you in detail about your invention throughout the process, you run the risk of them building a product that wasn’t at all like what you had envisioned. So, when you call companies, you should not only make sure you ask about your involvement throughout the process but also make sure you like the people you speak with.

5) Confidentiality

This is one of the more common fears for inventors: how do I know my idea is safe? It’s absolutely crucial that you make sure whichever company you choose to work with takes measures to ensure your confidentiality is protected. This typically involves a confidentiality agreement of some sort between yourself and the company as a whole. However, some companies take the extra measure of making each of their employees sign a confidentiality agreement as well upon hiring. Both of these measures ensure that you’re working with a trustworthy company and that your idea is safe from those with unsavory business practices.

6) Awards/Proof of Excellence

This step isn’t absolutely necessary, but it is helpful to have further proof of a company’s good track record aside from their word. Knowing they’ve won awards or even seeing some good reviews is a way to further make certain that you’ll be in good hands. There are several different awards that a product development company could have won or been nominated for. For example, it may be helpful to see if they’ve ever won or been nominated for an International Design Excellence award, which is an awards program co-sponsored by Businessweek Magazine and the International Designers Society of America.

Summary: Questions to Ask Product Development Companies

1) Do you build your inventions in-house or do you outsource them to another company?
2) Have you gotten products in stores?
3) Take me through your inventing process. Do you prototype inventions?
4) How involved will I be throughout the inventing process?
5) Is my invention idea protected? If so, what steps do you take to protect it?
6) Have you won any awards? Or do you have any other proof of your expertise?

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Do you have a better understanding of things that make an invention company a good one? Are you comfortable with looking for the invention company that is right for you? Check out what kind of inventor you are by clicking our link below!

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We’ve come a long way in the past 40 years. It wasn’t long ago that you could pack the family into the car and head down the road and see a drive-in movie. One company is putting a new spin on this classic concept. The Ford Motor Company envisions a world where humans kick back and watch a movie in the comfort of their own car while the vehicle takes them where they need to go.

Ford was granted a patent for an “Autonomous Vehicle Entertainment System.” Just imagine– an entertainment system for your car now that you no longer have to focus on the road while “driving.”

For is not alone. Other tech companies, google for example, also aim to produce driverless cars. Only Ford, however, has considered the creature comforts that will keep us occupied during the ride.

According to Ford’s patent, “The entertainment system controller presents media content on a first display while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, and on a second display when the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode.”

Motorists would be able to choose when the car is in which feature, allowing for human intervention if necessary. Drawings supplied with the patent show removable front seats. This suggests that the drivers will need to decide in advance if the trip will be autonomous or if they will need to do some driving.

Ford has plans to develop this driverless technology; however, it could only be used in defined conditions such as highway driving or in smart cities. Basic driver assist features such as lane correction, hazard warnings, and autonomous parallel parking will also be available when the car is not in driverless mode.

No matter which you choose, this is pretty exciting technology that will lead way for many other technological innovations in the future.

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In a world where technology is at our fingertips, it is sometimes hard to not be on our personal devices even while driving. With more and more states passing laws that make it illegal to even hold your phone while driving, it is inevitable that you may run into a citation or two.

Many people use their smartphones for GPS navigation, but how are they supposed to use them if they are not allowed to be on their phone while driving? ExoMount CD Car Mount proves to be the answer. Thanks to the clever design of the ExoMount, this cellphone mount easily attaches to your CD player that most people don’t even use anymore. The brilliance of the ExoMount allows you to have your phone in a visible location without having to use your hands. The 360-degree rotation allows the user to orient the mount any way they wish.

ExoMount was created as a better way to hold a phone while driving by using a part of a vehicle that most people no longer have a use for, thanks to aux cords and Bluetooth. Notice how the innovator behind the ExoMount took into consideration something that all vehicles have but is not widely used anymore; repurposing the CD player.

Its product ideas like these that are often times a hit with consumers. This product is easily adaptable to fit in any automobile with a CD player and provides the solution to a problem that many people encounter while driving.

Sometimes, the solution to a problem is staring you right in the face!

Do you have an idea for a product that will offer a solution to a problem most people face? If so, we would love to hear it. Confidentially submit your idea today!

Davison Design & Development had no involvement with the design or development of the featured product.

Copyright, Davison Design & Development 2017

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Today, as you walk down the street- take a look around. What do you see? How many cars can you count? Keep this in mind because in ten years this scene may look completely different.

Thanks to technological innovations, it is predicted that within our lifetime we will see a drastic decrease in human operated cars on the road. As autonomous vehicles become more of a reality, the need for every person to own an automobile will soon dwindle down. By 2020, more than ten of the most well-known car manufacturers will be releasing their versions of self-driving automobiles. Companies such as Ford even announced their version of an autonomous car will come without a steering wheel or pedals!

Imagine how convenient; instead of owning a car, simply pulling out your phone and ordering a car to your house (very similar to Uber). However, this one is completely computer operated – eliminating the chance of human error when searching for your location. This method of transportation will also be much cheaper than Uber, for there will be no need to have a human driver in the car.  Accidents will become sparser, traffic will die down due to less driver error, and people can become way more efficient by getting their work done in a car that is driving itself. This will eliminate drunken driving, car accidents, and accidents that occur due to falling asleep at the wheel.

These autonomous vehicles will have an impact on numerous industries. Insurance companies will begin to dissolve and be forced to lower their pricing. With fewer vehicles on the roads and the less likelihood of a crash due to the autonomous technology, insurance rates will naturally go down. Gas stations will be forced to begin adapting over to electric charging stations, fuel prices will drop. Auto mechanics and specialty shops will have to learn new methods of working on these “computers”.  These are just some of the many impacts industries will experience once this technology becomes mainstream.

Innovation and technological advancements are what drive tomorrow’s world. Without the people behind these ideas, none of these advancements would be possible. It is everyday people, people like you who can have an idea that will change the world of tomorrow.

Do you have an idea for a product that will help change the way humans accomplish tasks in the 21^st century? If so, we would love to hear it. Confidentially submit your idea today!

Copyright, Davison Design & Development 2017

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Can you imagine getting a long awaited phone call out of the blue telling you that your idea has sparked the interest of a company? You then find out from Davison’s Licensing Department that they are making an offer to license your product ! That’s right…Davison tries longer! Even when our contracts expire with our clients, we still have companies approaching us and we still attend tradeshows to find corporate licenses for our client’s ideas.

This is a phone call many would love to receive! However, when a client’s project does not get licensed, they tend to move on. In most cases, clients have long since given up on their products, and in some cases – have even forgotten about them. We always love getting offers and deals for our clients even after our contracts expire because it makes a statement of our dedication to our clients!

People give up on their ideas yet we hold on to them in hopes that we find a company who is looking for a particular product. Just because your idea doesn’t get picked up on the first pitch, doesn’t mean years later a company won’t have a use for it !

For example, recently (this past March) a company that has licensed products with us in the past attended the International Housewares show in Chicago. They were looking for products that they could bring to the show that fit into their existing product line. It just so happens that the team at Davison held on to a product, The Taco Shell Maker, that fit the description of the product category the company was looking for.

After first refusing, the persistence of our licensing department paid off and the company agreed to showcase the product at the upcoming trade show. It turns out, the product was a huge hit with both retailers and manufacturers. The company quickly realized they should adopt this product into their product line and soon after, they licensed it !

The best part about this is that our team did this second round of product pitching, absolutely free! It didn’t cost the client a penny. This is just one of the many examples of times where companies have been in search of a product that wasn’t so successful in the past, but years later, is exactly what a different company was looking for.

We would love to hear your ideas for any products you feel serve as “a better way” of doing something!

Confidentially submit your invention idea today!
Copyright Davison, 2017

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Back in February, our CEO and Founder, George Davison took a trip to The Container Store to see if he could find our client Jennifer’s Hanger Pocket Accessory Organizer product, which keeps clothes and accessories neatly organized. The trip to the store was a success and Mr. D was able to locate her product under a private label!

We shared news of Mr. D visiting The Container Store to hunt down Davison client Jennifer’s Hanger Pockets that were private-labeled. Now, we’re sharing even more evidence of the Davison ‘D’ at The Container Store.

Check out the video!

Another successful trip to The Container Store! Mr. D was able to locate several more Davison client products under both their original packaging and under private labels. “We’re hearing that a lot of our inventions keep showing up at The Container Store!” said Mr. D. Well it’s safe to say that after this trip to The Container Store we have found even more evidence of the Davison ‘D’ on shelves!

Copyright Davison, 2017

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit. The inventor of Hanger Pocket Accessory Organizer has not made a net profit on this product.

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Creativity – the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

Persistence – firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

By tapping into our inner creativity, we enable ourselves to brainstorm and think of original ideas. Is there a problem you’ve wanted to solve? Can you think of a better way to do something? Once we channel our inner creativity and think of an idea, it then comes down to persistence. Will you give up easily or decide it’s okay to fail your way forward? Do you believe enough in yourself and your idea to keep going?

The lesson is to keep believing in yourself and your idea! We know it’s possible to turn ideas into reality and create “a better way” for two reasons. Our professional team at Davison works with real idea people every day to help move their invention ideas forward. Also, simply take a look back throughout the years to remember the many great inventors and innovators who’ve done it before us. Use their powerful words to motivate the inventor and innovator within yourself.

“Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged.”

– Thomas Edison

“I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success.”

– Nikola Tesla

“The only true test of values, either of men or of things, is that of their ability to make the world a better place in which to live.”

– Henry Ford

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” 

– Benjamin Franklin

Have these Thursday thoughts inspired the inventor within you? Confidentially submit your idea today.

Copyright Davison, 2017

Images:

http://www.biography.com/people/thomas-edison-9284349

http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/hall_of_fame/henry_ford

http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/hall_of_fame/benjamin_franklin

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It’s when we open our eyes and open our minds to the nature of improvement that innovation ignites.

For over 27 years, so many people have reached out to our professional team at Davison because they believed in their ideas. They are idea people. They are innovators. They are inventors.

These clients believed that they had found “a better way.” While some confidentially submitted ideas for completely new inventions, others submitted ideas for innovations that would improve a current way something is done. They were able to tune into their power of observation and open their minds to the possibility of improvement. In either case, these client stories are not unlike the story of our founder, Mr. George Davison. While they may have tried and failed and then tried again and failed again, it’s all a part of failing your way forward.

As we keep going after our ideas, new observations are realized. We learn to understand why it didn’t work the first time, the second time, the third time. However many times it takes is what’s necessary to make movement and progress. Just take it from one of Mr. Davison’s inspirational thought leaders:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

The lesson is to keep curious, keep observing and continue on the path to innovation. If you have an idea and want help on your invention journey, contact us today.

Copyright Davison, 2016

Media:

http://inventors.about.com/od/famousinventors/fl/Failed-Inventions-of-Thomas-Alva-Edison.htm

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Inventing is not an easy process. It takes motivation and dedication to move your invention forward. Founder George Davison has identified three key fundamentals of inventing. Let these ideals motivate you to push forward towards your goals.

A desire to do good by improving things.

In a previous blog post, we talked about the importance of desire when pursuing an idea, which noted:

In the invention industry, desire is what sparks the fire; it’s what helps a person persevere despite the ups and downs of the process…

Desire is fueled by your ‘why?’… For our founder, George Davison, his ‘why’ was fueled by failure and his story of passion and desire has become a great example of how to fail your way forward.

Why do you think your idea is better and what goodness will it bring into our world? It takes desire to begin answering these questions. Until you’ve found that inner spark that fuels you to open up and be creative, it will be hard to latch onto the desire that’s necessary to accomplish great things. When the desires change and we ask ourselves for something better or for something more, our minds open up and we start to look for new solutions.

Use your observational skills to identify improvement opportunities that mean something to you.

Every invention started somewhere. You’ll find that when you give your mind permission to seek innovation and improvement, a world of different opportunities will start to present itself to you. Some of us may seek improvements that we encounter in the world around us, while others will go into deep science seeking understanding that will one day provide insight for inventors in the future to invent their creations.

Start innovating.

How to start innovating begins with the environment around you. We are big believers in creating inspirational environments around our inventors. When you are immersed with a positive can-do spirit, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

One of the first things about innovation and invention is creating an environment for yourself that enables mental openness to allow you to think of a better way to do something.

“I have fundamentally altered innovation labs, R&D labs, college makerspaces, high school makerspaces and more for people, just trying to set the stage for a creative mindset to take root,” said Mr. Davison.

The professional team at Davison is here to help guide you through the inventing process, just like they’ve done with so many other Davison clients who dared to invent.

Get started today by confidentially submitting your invention idea!

Copyright Davison, 2016

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