Davison Designs are a Hit at Vegas SuperZoo

Davison designs made their mark at the Las Vegas SuperZoo trade show, held September 11-13^th, when Hydro Toys and the adorable Pugz collection were showcased. 

With a total of an estimated 900 exhibitors, the National Show for Pet Retailers showcased Davison licensing partner, Hugs Pet Products, who was pleased to display several Davison designs.

Hugs debuted their 2013 catalog at the show, which included popular Davison designs including the Hydro Toys and the adorable Pugz collection of apparel and accessories.  The Hydro Toys are a line of chewable dog toys that act as a sponge.  It can be filled with water and as the dog chews and plays, he or she is staying hydrated as well.  The Pugz boots are almost identical to the Uggs boots that human wear, which will keep feet warm and cozy in cold weather. 

“We had interest from everywhere! We saw major retailers and industry spokespeople like Wendy Diamond and Charlotte Reed. Plus, we met with magazine reps from Dog Fancy and Modern Dog,” said Hugs Pet Products marketing representatives Kristie Vossler, who also said  that Hugs’ social media existence helped them associate with a larger audience.  “Social media played a major part in gaining visitors to the booth. We were able to interact with other attendees and spark interest in our booth and products.”

One crowd-pleasing product was Hugs’ new Davison-designed Jaws collection, which is a dynamic chew toy line with easy rubber tines that massage gums and remove plaque. It is also an edible treat to keep dogs busy and satisfied for hours.

“Everyone loved the new products, especially the Pugz and Jaws lines,” said Vossler.

Modern Dog is even promoting the Davison-designed Jaws collection on their website saying, “Chew on this…literally! Hugs’ Chew Core is just what the doctor ordered for promoting pet dental health. The veterinarian-approved Chew Core satisfies a dog’s instinctive tendency to chew, while its durable, molded rubber tines gently massage pets’ gums, safely removing plaque and strengthening jaw muscles. Pups play and the Chew Core does the rest!” 

Davison and Hugs were also able to meet Holly Madison from “The Girls Next Door,” who is also making her way into the pet product industry with her new company, Lucky Pet Products.
Pictures and videos from the event can be seen on several social media websites including Pinterest, which is Davison recently joined.  All of the products that were showcased at the show are also sold online and retail stores. 

While Davison regularly attends trade shows in a number of industries, it does not promise that any particular client product will be, or is likely to be, presented or discussed at a trade show.

How to Invent a Cat Product

If you are wondering how to invent a new cat product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line. 

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new cat product, one of the most popular products to recently come out is the Sky Climber Cat Ladder. The product, made by Ware Manufacturing, improves on the existing “cat tree” concept that has been around for years. Where the original cat tree item was typically unsightly and would eventually become less than a challenge for pet cats, the Sky Climber offers cats a multitude of entertainment options in one attractive location. The item itself spans from ceiling to floor for most houses, and features multiple platforms with soft, durable but attractive fabric to cushion. The base of the cat ladder has a twine scratching station, and there is also a closed off space in the middle. The vary-leveled perches offer up plenty of vantage points for cats, while the design itself is pleasing to the eye, featuring a streamlined, painted metal frame and tops, along with color-coordinated materials. The cat ladder is also stable, which means that the cat or cats playing on it are in no danger at any time. Because of its aesthetic appeal, the product can be positioned anywhere the cat owner wishes; it coordinates with most decorative motifs and its streamlined look is almost artistic in comparison to previous types of cat climbing furniture. This means that cats can enjoy playing while still being able to be social if they choose.  This is an option that cat owners increasingly look for in products.

Another recent cat invention is the Aikiou Stimulo cat feeder. The Stimulo cat feeder is meant to take the place of the traditional food bowl set up that many pet owners have employed for years. Recently, cat lovers have noticed that their pets are less than interested in eating from their bowls, are lethargic or indulge in hunting out of boredom. While the last is not in and of itself a bad thing, the fear among many owners is that the cat will end up hunting a sick or poisoned animal and become sick or poisoned itself. The Aikiou Stimulo was designed to meet the hunting needs of cats while also providing food, combining stimulation and feeding in one. While many products exist to help stimulate cats, the Stimulo’s improvement on the theme is that cats are naturally hard-wired to seek stimulation through hunting. Food items or kibble can be hidden by the cat’s owner in the Stimulo’s various tubes, which are set at different heights to provide varying levels of difficulty. The cat is able to access the food by figuring out different ways to use his or her paws to get at the different depths. In this way, the pet can engage in a hunting-like behavior that keeps the brain active and is more natural to cats than the open bowl. It also insures that the cat’s calorie consumption is more accurately matched to its activity level, helping to prevent weight and digestive problems. Because it is different from the bowl or dish configuration many cats become accustomed to, it can also be used to revive a flagging interest in food.

When figuring out how to invent your product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

A typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable. 

Types of Patents

A smart inventor knows that patenting usually comes near the end of the inventing process.  After you have come up with an idea, checked for other patents that are similar to your idea, talked to manufacturers about what they are looking for, created a working prototype and talked to manufacturers some more, it may be time to consider a patent.  It is important to improve your concept and make sure it’s as good as you can make it before even thinking of trying to get it patented.  

So what is a patent exactly?  A patent is defined as the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, or selling their invention for a certain number of years.   It is one of the ways to protect an invention from unauthorized selling or from being copied.  The following are the three types of patents issued in Unites States of America.

Utility patents
Utility patents are the most common patents obtained by inventors. They are obtained by those who invent or discover a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter or any new and useful improvement thereof.  This type of patent focuses mainly on how something works. Utility patents could cover mechanical devices, chemical compositions, pharmaceuticals or even software. Another characteristic of a utility patent is that it always involves a detailed written description of the invention. These patents can also be obtained for the functional aspects of an invention.

Design Patents
The second type of patent available to inventors is the design patent. They may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

Plant Patent
The third and final type of patent obtainable in the United States is the plant patent. The plant patent is the rarest form of patent used. They exist only in a very limited field. For example, if a person invented a new hybrid type of sunflower plant, then they would need a plant patent for their invention.

To better explain all three patents it helps to visualize an invention.  For example, if someone invented a new type of wallet, then the design patent would cover the looks of it, and the utility patent would cover what makes it work (zippers, clasps, or velcro). The plant patent would obviously not apply to this type of invention.

In 2000, the cost of obtaining a patent was an estimated $10,000 to $30,000 per patent in the United States, although they can run more if litigation is forced upon the inventor.

There are many aspiring inventors out there.  In order to spend their time and money wisely, it is crucial for them to understand when and how to patent.  Many people believe that patenting their idea right away is what they need to do and this is not always the best idea.  Smart inventors and reputable inventing companies know that it is best to leave the patenting towards the end of the inventing process, after the idea has been improved and perfected as much as possible.  When the time finally comes, understanding these different types of patents will come in handy.

Davison-Designed Products Sold by Sears

As time goes on, Davison continues to rapidly add to its expanding list of retailers.  In August of 2011, only a few months after Davison announced that they had reached the 900-store milestone, Ross and Shop NBC were added to the list, bringing the total count of different stores that have carried Davison-designed products and packaging solutions to 1,000.  

“Setting our mission one day to have inventions in 1,000 stores would be like a school boy believing he would have a Super Bowl ring on his finger someday,”said founder and CEO George Davison.  “The light at the end of the tunnel was so far away, I didn’t know if we’d ever reach it.   We climbed that hill, and we’re smashing through 1,000 stores today!”

One of the retail outlets that have sold multiple Davison-designed products is Sears. Officially founded as Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1893, Sears began as a mail order catalog and opened its first stores in 1925. With over 2,248 locations as of 2010, Sears has established itself as a steady presence among multinational department stores.

Davison’s innovative RCV Leveler has been sold by Sears.  The product was conceptualized to solve the problem of ensuring that Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are level to make sure that refrigeration fluids flow the way they should. The other existing product at the time for leveling an RV required that the user take measurements from inside the RV.

In response to this issue, Davison developed the RV Leveler, a two-part product that enables the user to quickly and easily determine if the vehicle is level. The base communicates wirelessly via radio with a corresponding handheld device that operates even beyond 30 feet away. The simple LED display lets the user easily see where adjustments are needed: green for level and red for non-level. 

Another Davison-designed product to be sold by Sears is the Party Traveler. Initially developed by a client who came to Davison with her idea, the Party Traveler provides a neat and easy way to transport food.  Traditional methods, covering with plastic or foil, don’t always do a proper job of keeping the food inside protected. The initial design was inspired by deviled eggs, though once the client brought the idea to Davison, it was expanded, so that not only deviled eggs, but many other treats can be easily taken from house to event.

The Party Traveler includes a universal base, egg tray, cupcake/muffin tray, pie/cookie/cake tray, veggies/chips tray, and a tightly locking lid. The veggie, pie, and cookie trays rotate, and all of the trays stack neatly inside the unit so that everything can be stored easily in one place. Made of lightweight material, the Party Traveler can go anywhere, and the material is simple to clean.

The Trik Stik, another innovative product inspired by a Davison client, has also been sold by Sears. The Trik Stik is designed to provide extreme sports enthusiasts with an obstacle to jump. While there was an existing market with many items that provided the opportunity for skateboarders, skaters, and bike riders to jump ramps and rails, the Trik Stik offers an advantage that many others do not.

The Trik Stik’s design enables riders to adjust the height of the obstacle as their skill increases. The sticks can be positioned between ramps and rails or on their own. The two-piece design means that the arm moves out of the way if the rider does not jump high enough, and two models, the deluxe and standard version, give versatility to extreme sports enthusiasts looking for different things.

“The once unthinkable has happened — our products have now sold in 1,000 different stores. It’s an incredible day for the company and for all of us. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this mission of making dreams come true.”

A typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable. 

Strangest Inventions of 2010

Have you ever wondered what the strangest inventions are? Keep reading, and you will learn about some of the strangest inventions of 2010. Although quite odd, if you have the nerve to use any of these products in public, they may be useful.

The Baby Mop
The first one in this series was invented by a Japanese man, Kenji Kawakami. It’s called the Baby Mop. The Baby Mop is an unusual and bizarre invention. It is so odd that the inventor coined a word to classify it into a category; it’s called the Chindogu category. In fact, Kawakami founded the International Chindogu Society for unusually strange inventions. The criterion for membership is that the inventor’s creation be so ridiculous and useless, that the fact that it is real and practical is nearly forgotten.

The idea behind the Baby Mop is to get your floors mopped while keeping track of your child. The mop fibers protrude from the legs, arms and tummy of a garment the size of a baby that crawls. The baby is put on top of the clothing that has the protruding mop fibers, and while he or she crawls on the floor it gets mopped from the movements of the baby.

Hamster Powered Paper Shredder
Next is the Hamster Powered Paper Shredder. That’s right! You can shred your paper with the aid of a hamster. This unit was designed by Tom Ballhatchet. The paper shredder is built into a hamster’s cage. While the hamster runs on the typical round cylinder seen in hamster cages, it activates the shredder. This is when you insert the paper into the unit for shredding.

E-tomb
Have you been thinking about your future gravesite or headstone? The E-tomb is one of the strangest inventions; however, it is quite innovative at the same time. The E-tomb is a grave marker that is powered by solar energy. The cross on the front of the headstone is equipped to enable a key to be inserted into it and connecting by means of bluetooth technology.

The headstone, through the connection, provides digital information about the deceased. It provides audio and video clips, pictures, social networking sites, and it gives out information on the individual’s digital personality. The headstone is also capable of uploading information from friends that may stop by with the intention of making it a memorable experience for friends of the deceased. The E-tomb was designed by Huang Jianbo, Zhao Ting, Wang Yushan, Ran Xiangfei and Mo Ran.

Umbrella Shoes
Do you hate getting your feet wet during a rainstorm? Umbrella Shoes may be one of the strangest inventions, but you will end up with dry feet. A small umbrella approximately three inches high is attached to the pointy end of each shoe, where your big toe is. The umbrella is opened, and you are ready to walk outside in the rain keeping your feet dry. The circumference of the opened umbrella is just wide enough not to interfere with your feet or legs.

Sweeper Slippers
Last but not least of the strangest inventions are the Sweeper Slippers. This invention is a pair of slippers with a dustpan attached to one slipper at the point where your big toe is and a miniature broom, without the stick, attached to the other slipper at the point where your other big toe is. To sweep your floor, you simply maneuver your feet to brush the dirt onto the dustpan.

These inventions from 2010 are only several of which most people may never hear of. Nevertheless, for the courageous person who doesn’t mind looking like a fool, if not useful, these inventions can be a lot of fun.