SnacKup - snack presentation system

While driving out to their favorite fishing spot, two friends stop at a gas station. They each grab a snack for the road. The driver buys some Combos and the passenger gets a bag of Caramel Bugles. Off they drive. The passenger enjoys the sweet and salty Bugles as he has two hands available, one to handle the bag and the other to eat with. The driver is frustrated while eating his tubular pretzel treats. He does not wish to get crumbs inside his new Mazda6, yet getting the Combos with one hand is tricky. He hears the passenger chew another handful of Bugles. He looks at the bag of Combos. He starts to wish the other guy would choke on those snacks.  What he really needs is a way to present his snacks that would not endanger the interior's integrity.

Presenting the ETI SnacKup. This snack presentation system will allow the driver to eat snacks that are lifted to the proper height. The SnacKup holds 470cc of snacks. A photo eye is used to sense when the snack level is too low. It then signals the lifting plate to rise. The 3 volt motor and screw drive then lifts the plate with .5 punds of thrust and brings snacks to the top level. Here the driver can reach the Combos at the optimal level. The snacks can be saved for later by placing a lid on the cup. The Lift and Retract button gives a manual option as well as resetting the SnacKup for the next bag of crackers. Note that the center console is shown as a Mazda6 and other center console might differ.  

This is a $250,000 idea. It would need to sell in the $19-$29 range and would require considerable marketing. Distribution would partner with the Brookstone, Sharper Image, and Sky Mall type magazines. It is in the rough design (at best) and there are a lot of functionality problems to overcome. At this stage it is only slightly better than a shallow SOLO® cup.

Design Hurdles.

• Define best lifting mechanism
• Ability to clean
• Design slip gears for when people push down the lift plate by hand

Now the Driver munches on his Combos with joy and flourish. The passenger looks into his simple bag full of crumbs and feels a little old fashion. If only he also had a SnacKup.

Please let me know if you think this Million Dollar Idea has a chance.

Does it need a different feature?

Is there a major design flaw?

Do we need to start production so you can have one?

 

Until next time – Keep Thinking

Eric The Inventor

TreaTag - the Halloween Yard Sign

There is an unspoken competition that occurs every year. On Halloween the children of a neighborhood rank the adults on the coolness scale based solely on the candy they receive. Over the years this has raised the candy quality many levels. A national phone service even highlighted this social phenomenon in a commercial.  A family dressed in Star Wars outfits uses their network devices to plan a better route on Halloween.

Hershey’s Candy Company worked hard to make their product, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, the most desired treat. Kent wants to be ranked highly so he buys Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The only problem is that the kids might not make it to his house because they don’t know what he has. If there was just a way to let them know?

 

The ETI Commercial Marketing Division introduces the TreaTag. This is the first Halloween yard sign that kids will read. The TreaTag consist of a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) printed sheet and two ABS folding supports. The supports go into the two pocket sleeves in the printed sheet. The TreaTag is free with every extra-large bag of Reese’s. The supports fold up to fit in the bag and protect the sharp point. When the sign is installed the supports will fold away from each other, offering an active resistance to the LDPE sheet.  

This is a $1 million dollar idea. The Candy industry spends millions on advertising over Halloween. This would increase that coverage considerably. The sign construct might also have wide ranging possibilities for the Political industry, Garage sales, Grad Parties. The COG is about $0.45 in bulk. The real savings is in the shipping and distribution. This will weigh significantly less than traditional yard signs with wire frames.

Hurdles:

Putting “sharp” items in with kid’s candy

Encouraging the public to use them

Signs manufacturing in a way that is safe for food contact

Kent displayed his TreaTag for a week ahead of time. On the big night he “up-ed” his game by using glow sticks to back light the sign. Kids did not miss his house. Kent finally received the unspoken high ranking he always deserved. The next morning revealed the truth. This year it is the neighbor’s house that got egged.  Way to go Kent! Way to go.

Until next time – Keep Inventing

Eric The Inventor

TeeNote - public communication system

Jill is staying after school to help with the upcoming Junior High dance. When she is done she needs her mom to pick her up. There is no more payphones, and they are never coming back. Her parents can’t afford a cell phone for her. Jill is forced to find a passing teacher and ask to use their phone. Now the teacher feels obligated to remain in the front of the school until Jill’s parent arrives. What is needed is a modern public communication option.

 

The public education technology division of ETI is proud to announce the TeeNote. This public communication system consists of a station for sending a text and a larger screen for displaying the text response. The student would enter a code into the station. Then TeeNote would offer them 2-5 options of phone numbers to text that the parents have preapproved. After sending the message the student would wait by the response screen for an answer. If needed the student could reply again.

This is a $500,000 Idea. The market is limited to schools. The TeeNote system would cost almost $10,000 to buy and install. The upkeep cost would average $200 a month. The value is also restricted because it is not far out of the concept stage. As electronics and programming are required, an outside service would be needed during the development process. This does have a chance at a non-profit company with a corporate sponsor. If it could be sold to Verizon, Best Buy, Apple as public service opportunity, it would have a better chance.

 The TeeNote system is the reinvention of the payphone. It will allow every student to communicate with someone without having to have a school employee monitor the system.

Warning – Soap Box Diatribe - I believe this is needed because parents, students, and schools have lost the ability to plan ahead. Is this because we don’t want to be held accountable for being someplace on time? Jill and her mom could have arranged a time and a place. That is what everyone did  for 100's of years. But those days are gone with the payphone, and they are never coming back.  

Until next time - Keep Thinking

Eric the Invenmtor

LighTote - purse with integrated illumination

On Friday, Sandy is walking out to her car after an evening talking to friends. She can’t find her keys in her purse. It’s too dark. On Saturday, Sandy pauses before going into the movie theater with her boyfriend. She can’t find her ChapStick® in her purse. It’s too dark. On Sunday, Sandy is in church and wants to take notes. She can’t find her pen in her purse. It’s too dark. Sandy wishes there was a better way.

 

The ETI LighTote is the world’s best purse with integrated illumination. The purse contains a switched hinge in the purse’s joint. This feature contains a battery and a switch. When the LighTote is opened it turns on two strings of LEDs that are strung around the lower walls of the purse. This indirect light allows the user to find the needed item without dilating their pupils and losing night vision.

The LighTote is an easy $750,000 idea. It is easy to manufacture as a $4 cost of goods (COG) upgrade to any existing purse and could add $15 of value. There are a million options for distribution. The market is huge. It is an item that 50% of the public purchases once a year.

Hurdles:

·         Patent Issues – It might be difficult to write a patent with enough protection. So every other company will have a version in 1 year.

·         Battery Life – If the purse is left open it will drain eventually. A timer in switch would help.

·         Ignorance – Ladies might not want to see what is on the bottom of their purse.

This concept is long overdue and leads into several new concepts; phone chargers, exterior flash light, fiber optic exterior luminescent designs. Men might be the most excited about the LighTote. We love putting LEDs on everything and we hate waiting outside movie theaters while the girlfriend looks through her black hole of a purse for lip gloss. This probably means she plans to interrupt my Jet Li movie with kissing. There will be plenty of time for making out after Jet Li has restored honor to his family.  

Until Next Time – Keep Inventing

Eric the Inventor

MusiCrew - Online Jam Session App

There would be nothing better for a guitarist on a Saturday afternoon than to pick up his six-string and play a few sets with his friends. Unfortunately, Steve is new in town.  After mastering his new favorite 80’s song, Steve has no one to play it with. If he could just connect up with other musicians that also love Men At Work, he could fully realize his dream.

MusiCrew, the newest app from ETI, will bring these artists together. Steve the guitarist starts a group called “Who Can it Be Now”.  He selects the kind of artists he needs; Bass guitar, Drummer, Australian Singer, and a little Saxophone.  There are millions of artist registered with MusiCrew and they all have a rating that has been assigned be other MusiCrew artists. Steve sets the rating level he requires and then he opens his group up to anyone in the world to join. He gets Mark, a buddy from college, to drum. Raindrop, a lady from Seattle, signs up to play Bass. Some Australian, Colin Hay, says he’s great at signing MAW songs. Although a little odd, there is a mouse saxophone player that is highly rated, so she’s in too. At the scheduled time, they log onto the “Who Can It Be Now” group site and record. Everyone does great. MusiCrew sends the recording to the players and makes it available for the thousands of Steve’s followers to download.  (Alright they were all Colin’s followers.)

 

This is a full $1Million Idea. The money would be raised through music downloads and artist fees. It could easily break off into the Professional artists running workshops. Imagine all the people that would sign up to play guitar or sing with Maroon 5. The next level purchase would offer editing software.

Obviously there are a several technical issues.

·         Would network connection lag times throw off the timing?

·         What would be the Copyright issues?

·         Would it require a server the size of a warehouse?

Every musician would join and every musician’s friend would buy the recordings. I’m not kidding here, this is the next step in social networking. Although I do not play music, even I would learn the harmonica to play “Soul Man” with Dan Aykroyd. Which artist would you pay to play with?

 

Until Next Time, Keep Thinking!

Eric the Inventor

TriMow- Grass Trimmer attachment for Mower

The man of the house stops to review his yard. For the last hour he has pushed 6.5 horse power of grass cutting machine over every inch of his yard. Now every blade of grass is standing perfectly at the right height. He takes a breath of relaxation, but it is cut short. Along the garden bed and the fence there is a 2 inch strip of grass that avoided the mower. He will have to get his trimmer out and walk the same yard he already walked. Slightly defeated he pushes his mower back the garage. If there was a way to mow and trim at the same time this man would be enjoying a cold Pepsi and a Twins game instead of being out in the sun for another 30 minutes.

The ETI TriMow (pronounced “trim-mow” not “tri-meow”) is here to restore weekends back to the American home owner. This attachment will trim grass on the left side of your mower. The Guide Wheel will automatically adjust the Spring Arm so that the TriMow Power Head will remain an effective yet safe distance from the fence. The on / off switch is manual with an cable up to the handle. The mower’s motor would run a small generator that produced 14 volts for the Power Head.

Design Challenges…

• Guide Wheel will not be able to handle uneven surfaces. (i.e. Picket Fences)
• TriMow Height may need to be adjusted a different points in the yard.

This is a $400,000 idea. It is held back because it is an accessory to another medium priced purchase. As trimmers start at about $75, this attachment might need to be in the $100 range. The product does not totally eliminate the need for a trimmer. There will be some spots in the yard not approachable by mowers. This is the design is also a long way away from complete so the business value is quite low.

 The TriMow is a great idea that needs doing. I need … I mean … Hypothetical home owner  guy needs every minute he can save on the weekends. And that ice cold cola is not going to drink itself.

Untill next time  - Keep Inventing

Eric the Inventor 

PapeRoaster

The world is full of documents that that people no longer want. They also do not want other people to see them. That is why Adolf Ehinger made the first electric paper shredder in the 1959. His concept of the duel cutting cylinders attached to a motor has really been the standard over 50 years. Unfortunately this form of destruction cannot be trusted any more. As proven by such authoritative shows like CSI and Psych, these strips of paper can be reconstructed by people with nothing else to do.

It is also worth noting that there is now quite a large industry around document destruction. If a company shreds paper at their location then they have to dispose of the shredded paper that takes up twice the space that non-shredded paper does. There are companies like Shred-it that make millions by simply taking your paper away and disposing of it. The world is ready for a solution that really destroys documents and doesn’t generate dumpsters full of paper.

 

The world is ready for the ETI 3000 PapeRoaster. This takes the destruction process to an irreversible state. The paper is loaded into the PapeRoaster and is shredded into 1/8 inch strips. This process increases the surface area of the paper. Roller Cylinders feed the paper down the center. At this point two Heat Jet Manifolds will ignite propane. The strips of paper drop into the gauntlet of fire and are reduced to ashes. The final charred waste is collected in a high temp polymer bin.

The American Office now has a way of to achieve total document destruction.  Some of our cautious customers have expressed concern about an open flame and fuel source in the copy room.  The ETI 3000 PapeRoaster is fully incased in a 1 inch thick cement enclose. The Rollere Cyclinders inside restrict the flame and heat from moving up the shredder.  As an added precaution the bin door will not open if the temperature inside is over 110° F. These safeguards insure complete incineration without a chance of harming the operator.

Design challenges include.

• There is a good chance for the process to have air flow issues. Too much air and the ash will blow everywhere. Not enough and the fire does not burn.
• A vent might be added to allow heat to exhaust outside.

This is a $500,000 idea. Every major office in the world would want one. The units would sell for $3000 and could be built for $500. Shipping will eat into the profits as the Cement casing would weigh it down. Ongoing sales of the fuel could help offset some costs.

With the ETI 3000 PapeRoaster  bad guys everywhere would not fear the CSI search warrant. Lets see Gil Grissom reconstruct that on an oversized light table.

Until next time - Keep Thinking

Eric The Inventor

PortaLock - 3D Printing File Share

In Star Trek, Next Generation, everyone one the Enterprise could go to the nearest replicator and ask for food. The machine would fabricate to food on the spot, dish and all. While Geordi La Forge in the engineering room could struggled to repair the ship because he had to retrofit parts and patch the Enterprise back together. Why didn’t they install a bigger replicator on the engineering floor? It would make way more sense than having one in every bedroom.

Today the industry of 3D printing would have saved the Enterprise a dozen times over. The current technology to reproduce a part is accurate and available. For about $3000 you could have a 3D printer in your house. If you had the file, you could produce the replacement part you need for your cars retractable cup holder. If you had the file, you could make a battery cover for the TV remove. If you had the file, you could build that knob for the stove that broke during the great Spaghetti Meltdown of 2002. What an easy solution, if you had the file. The 3D printer industry wants to go residential, then the customers will need a way to obtain files.

Information flow for TV remote battery cover

 

The PortaLock is an ETI designed system for connecting households with the company supplied files they need. It would provide a location for participating companies to offer certain files to the public. These files would be standardized for a specific type of 3D printer. If you needed a remote battery cover, you could download the file for $2 and plug the file into your machine. This way the company still makes money without producing or shipping actual product. It also gives the company some slick customer information. PortaLock could also be a valuable resource to the innovative community that wishes to provide solid model files securely. If a factory needed a small part in order to keep a key machine operational, the Manufacturing Engineer could download the file and print one in a matter of hours. The production time saved would pay for the technology the first time used.

This is also a $1,000,000 Idea. It is widely acceptable that 3D printers will soon become common appliances. Every printer requires solid model files, and as of now there is not a good way to manage the file transfer process. Whatever company manages that first will own the industry.

The real fun part about this would be the innovators around the world that would file share their own inventions on this system. This would make PortaLock the central hub for all new concepts. I am idealistic enough to think that innovation is only limited by our ability to communicate. PortaLock will also be used by hobbyists. It is 100% guaranteed to have a full complement of SciFi action figures for anyone to build. The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) might be the first file loaded.   

Until next time – Keep Inventing

Eric the Inventor

TeKoach - Personal AI Trainer

There are many benefits for those that belong to a health club. Signing up for classes allows a trainer to correct your form. Standing in front of a mirror can also help a person see what they are doing wrong.  The problem is that the classes are not always on your schedule and the trainer is not always looking at your form. Standing in front of a mirror works if you already know what you are doing. What the modern health club needs is way to truly customize classes.

The TeKoach, another ETI first, combines all the best features. It is a full size LCD Display laminated in a smoky mirror. The display shows the AI trainers motion while the mirror allows you to “motion match” with the AI Trainer. Attached infrared projectors can capture your actions and give feedback on the screen. A trainer would assist you in customizing the program. The TeKoach would also provide data back to the trainer; response times, restricted motion, and completed sessions.  The TeKoach could become another profit center inside the health club.

This is easily a $1,000,000 Idea many times over. The technology exists and the industry is huge. With treadmill running over $5000, the TeKoach could easily sell in that range. With over 80,000 health clubs in the US, a 1% saturation would be $4 Million. Each year upgraded programs could be released. (or if this is run by Microsoft, every 2 months)

This will be the next wave in fitness training. Within a few years they will also be available in Universities, Hotels, and every millionaire will have their own. I also think it would be a great marketing move to get a celebrity trainer to be the image.  For an upgrade charge any character from Tomb Raider, Halo, or a Marvel Super Hero. I always pictured me working out with Juggernaut.

Until next time - keep inventing
Eric the Inventor

DraiNut

Most men would rather headlock an angry raccoon into submission than change a nasty diaper. But they would rather face the diaper than cleanout a clogged bathroom sink drain. The wad of indescribable foreign material that comes out of that hole leads a man to wonder, more than he would like, about his wife’s morning rituals. “Is that a R.O.U.S. wearing a hair binder?” (Yes, I did just reference Princess Bride 1987)

The true culprit is not the wife’s flowing locks but the outdated drain plug mechanism. A rod goes across the drain tube that actuates a drain support structure that takes up half the flow volume. It seems to have had “hair catching” as one of the design intents. The world needs to reinvent the drain.

The DraiNut by ETI is the answer to this daunting domestic disturbance. By offering a simple nylon ball valve connected to a torsion cable, the DriaNut removes the need for internal mechanisms while allowing external cleaning. In stead on pulling a plunger up and down the handle rotates.  If it is required the ball valve could contain a screen on top to catch the big pieces.

This is a $750,000 Idea. The market is every house in the world with a drain. It could be an add on to existing sinks if the mounting process was simple enough. The current replacement parts for a drain are $5-$10. The DraiNut kit would need to be in the range of $15-$20 to have any chance. This price restriction and concept shift from the norm are major market obstacles.

 Although it might seem like a boring problem, I had fun thinking through the dozens of ways to accomplish this; hydraulic balloons, twisting a silicone tube, blade valves. Please let me know if you have any ideas on this issue, other than making the whole world bald.

MinnoWhip

While in a boat by a shoreline the fisherman will cast at a structure. He is hoping to catch a predator waiting to ambush prey at the barrier between structure and open water.  In a normal situation the lure travels through that barrier in a perpendicular direction back to the fisherman. This means that the lure is actually in the best position for a short amount of time. The fisherman in the boat would like to keep the lure in the “barrier” area for as long as possible.

 

The  MinnoWhip by ETI keeps the lure in front of the bigger fish for longer. While at rest in the water the MinnoWhip floats nose up with the vertical swimming spoon out of the water. When retrieved the fishing line will provide tension from the center of the spoon. The lure will then travel at an oblique angle to the tension as opposed to normal lures that return in a direct line to the tension. When the fisherman wishes to reverse direction, simply allow the lure to come to rest and start retrieving. In this way the MinnoWhip sweeps back and forth across a large area. It also stays in the Barrier area for a long time. Fish are more likely to strike at the moment when the lure changes direction increasing the fisherman’s chances even more.

This is a full $1,000,000 Idea. The sports fishing market is as big as they come. By many reports there are over 60 Million anglers in the US alone. It would take less than 0.5% to make a million in sales. The concept could be sold with soft tales and an assortment of sizes. I personally would be the first $200 in sales.

This concept was developed years ago while fishing a shoreline and my friend hooked a plank of wood.  The hook was buried in the center of the flat board. It fought just like a fish. We even had the net ready. If it could fool us, the same concept in a lure may actually fool a real fish. I know that some might think that is too big of an assumption.  

Until Next Time - Keep Inventing

Eric The Inventor

SaiLite - Flying Fan Boat

In Minnesota there are over 10,000 bodies of fresh water, dozens of major rivers, and endless ponds. This gives the fishermen (and fisherwomen) too many choices. Moving between options is not always that easy.  Flying in to lakes with restricted access has become incredibly popular. But once you are there and your pilot leaves you are there until the plane comes back. What the fishing industry needs is a quick personal method to get to the next best fishing hole.
 

Introducing the ETI SaiLite. This vehicle combines the quick and simple transportation with the ability to fish any lake you want. The ultralight / parasail / boat design merges all the best features of each. The extendable floats near the bow provide stability while in the water. The large fan and rudder allow maneuverability both in the air and on the lake.

 
This is a $250,000 dollor Idea. The reason it is so low is that the market is small, and it is far from being fully developed. As obviously awesome as this idea is there are a few quirks to work out.

1.      Once on the lake and with a wet sail, how do you get back up again?

2.      How do we accommodate for weight distribution being different in the water than it is in air?

3.      Who do you ask to “get the net” or “take a photo” when you have a big catch?

Although these are worthy questions (and ones that I may have ideas on already) they are not insurmountable. Once these issues are worked out, possibly with fixed wings that fold, this could get to be a full $1,000,000 Idea. Yes, I can see it now, flying home with a stringer of fish waving in the breeze behind me… as they get caught in the fan and rain down on the traffic below. Maybe there are more than 3 questions that need answering.


Until Next Time - Keep Inventing
Eric The Inventor

BolTight

Machine operators in the field often have to do on-the-spot maintenance. If they don't have the right bolt for one machine the whole operation could come to a halt. It is impossible to carry a spare of every fastener they might ever need. What they need is a single option that could get them working again until the real parts could be found.

The ETI BolTight system becomes what ever bolt you need. Simply place the BolTight anchor into the hole and inject the non-stick epoxy through the center lumen. Hold for 3 minutes. Now your back to work. In 4 days when the real bolt comes in, loosen the BolTight system with the bolt head. Remove and replace with factory part. The operator never missed a beat.

This is a $500,000 dollar idea. Although it is unique enough to be marketable it does not have the market size required to get to the full million. Every guy in the field might put one in their box but they will only need them once a year. There is also a concern about the self life of the epoxy components. If they rattle around in back of someone's pickup for 3 summers, will it still work.

Thanks to Sean for talking this one out with me.

Till next time - Keep inventing

SofTub

Thousands of accidents occur in the bathroom every year. The combination of wet flooring, temperature changes, and hard surfaces makes getting in and out of the tub the most dangerous thing some people do every day. According to the CDC 2/3 of all domestic accidents are in the shower or tub. That added up to over 230,000 nonfatal events. It would save billions if there was a quick fix.

The ETI SofTub is a professionally installed coating that protects the user from the hard surfaces during a fall. The protection would involve 4 coats. 1st the prep coat of the tub to secure good adhesion. 2nd the closed cell foam layer is applied in 3 applications to achieve the 2" of cushion. 3rd a smoothing layer is applied with customer selected color. 4th is a high gloss finish that will include some antibacterial property. The product would be best applied to existing tubs but could quickly be provided on new installation tubs.

As a continuing service, the installer would fix cracking. ETI woukd also sell SofTub Scrub, a speciallized soap that included a cemical application to store the plasticiser of the finish coat.

This is at least the full $1,000,000 Idea. It prevents a billion dollars of damages. It could have as high as a 200% mark up. The on going sale of the ETI SofTub Scrub would also generate another $250,000. Not only would the money be good, not only a 100,000 people be helped, but it will most certainly be a late night infomercial that could become a classic. Where is the "I've fallen and I can't get up" lady. Time to come out of retiremnet.

Till next time - keep inventing!

HydrOptic Fish Camera

As a fisherman I am always looking for an edge. In clear water the underwater camera provides an advantage over the normal sonic fishfinders. Yes I am a few decades behind on this. But in their current state the AquaViews of the world are also decades behind. They utilize a tube screen and huge 12 volt batteries. Although I love the 80s, we need to update our fishing.
The ETI HydrOptic uses the smart phone that you already have. Just hook it up, drop it in, and take a look. The camera could also have a blue tooth transmitter in the float. It gives the user depth and direction. The phone ap would allow screen shots of fish that would capture time, GPS, and image.
This Idea is about a $500,000 dollar idea as it is only for a select group of sportsmen ( and sportswomen) that frequent clear water. There is also a concern about battery life. The market could be expanded to other commercial applications; bridge inspection, boat repair, or sewer maintenance. If thats the case, I guess we should make a disposable version.

"No-Label" Label printer

Label printers are still used in almost every office all over the word. What if you could skip the label and print directly to the object? This should work with any surface where a permanent marker would work.
It programs just like any other label maker. Say you want to label the kid's pencil box. You type in "PENCILS" into the ETI No-Label Maker. Then you start rolling the coated rubber wheel along the surface of the box. The internal printer puts the ink to a film that wraps around the wheel. As you roll the ink gets transferred to your pencil box.
I think this is a great idea. Definitely the whole million dollars. It could be used in every industry. There is a refill option with the film and the ink. It takes a concept that everyone knows like label printing and reintroduces it to the world.
Till next time - keep inventing

Hot Seat

27 March 2013

My favorite sports team, the Twins, are going to play the opener on April 1^st. Target field will barely have the frost off. The night game will see temps going from "Boy is it chilly" dropping down to “Help me get up, I’m frozen to the seat.”

Enter the first Million Dollar Idea.  The ETI seat cushion. A seat cushion made from open cell foam.  It would also come with an air activated seat warmer, like a large hand warmer. The cushion would have a slot in the side to receive the warmer. Now your seat is cushy and toasty. A printed Logo makes it official. 

It could have some added benefits. Many sports fans might enjoy a large batting helmet filled with hot nachos and a large chili dog during the third inning. By the sixth inning they have some gaseous distress. They are embarrassed to let one fly with everyone around.  Luckily they have an ETI seat cushion. The open celled foam acts as a silencer and the activated carbon in the warmer will filter most offending odors.

All right, I know it’s not a great idea, but they can’t all be homeruns.

This gets a $250K out of a Million ranking. The concept is simple, easily manufactured and easy to sell. There are a few drawbacks to the plan. There would not be a lot of margin. A seller would only see real sales in April, May, and September. To top it off the licensing agreement would need to be signed. There is not enough money to share, even if they are my favorite team.     

Have fun and keep thinking!