Monday, February 15, 2010

They Just Don't Get It

Many inventors become frustrated when nobody seems to see the value in what they have developed or they get frustrated when the product just does not sell as well as the inventor knows it should.

Believe it or not, this was the case with Fred Morrison, inventor of one of the most popular childrens' and adults' toys of all time (and among dogs too). That toy of course is the... Frisbee.

Mr. Morrison, who unfortunately passed away last week at the age of 90, had gone around demonstrating his "Pluto Platter" at department stores and county fairs, with little success. Eventually he became so frustrated with lack of sales that he decided to license the idea to someone else. That someone was the little-known Wham-O company. Morrison's invention has since put Wham-O on the map and spawned the sports of Ultimate and Folf. There is even now a World Flying Disc Federation.

Quite a turnout for a product that initially would not sell.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Major Company Seeks New Technologies

Companies in the medical products and consumer packaged goods businesses have historically tended to shun product or technology ideas submitted from outside their own firms' R&D departments. Proctor and Gamble has been a notable example of this, for instance.

However, there is one such company that actively solicits new technologies and ideas. This is Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, maker of Lysol, Clearasil, and Airwick products, among others. The company has a Website, Idealink, specifically for soliciting such ideas.

Below is a sampling of technologies the company is currently seeking:

Technology to control the release of pharmaceutical actives at various human physiological sites.

Novel, low cost delivery systems capable of conveniently distributing liquids into air and/or onto vertical or horizontal surfaces (targeted or large area).

Approaches to significantly improve the removal of grease and oil from substrates, delivered in a dilute aqueous environment.

Technologies to promote rapid dissolution of tableted materials in aqueous or human physiological environments and/or improve subsequent active absorption/action.

Technologies to enable active materials to target specific loci in dilute aqueous or human physiological conditions, facilitating direct action at that site.

Technologies to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of household cleaning, antimicrobial, personal care and OTC healthcare products :
•Formulation
•Processing
•Packaging

Technologies or approaches to modify, prevent or control microbial growth on hard, soft and biological surfaces via non-conventional (i.e. non biocidal) means.

Technologies to help protect the body from “attack” by a range of noxious/damaging species, materials and environments.

New developments in the area of surfactants and detergents.

Technologies to treat skin and/or promote healthy skin via control of pathogenic species or restoration of the skins natural defences.

Enzyme systems with increased stability and efficacy at low and high temperatures.

It is probably worth taking a look to see if there are any opportunities for you or someone you may know. The company also allows submission on unsolicited technology ideas.