"Invent Help" Invention Newsletter - June 2009

TLC and Kelly Ripa Need Women Inventors for TV Show

Many of you may recognize Kelly Ripa from her television roles, from the soap opera All My Children to Live with Regis and Kelly. For those at us at InventHelp, she's one of our favorite Mothers of Invention. This extraordinarily chipper mom of three is now turning her attention on today's women and their inventions. Kelly Ripa's Milojo Productions and TLC are partnering on a show that could help women inventors manufacture, market and sell their products on HSN.

Learn more about TLC's inventor reality show with Kelly Ripa

Health Inventions Gone Wrong

It's hard enough to build a better mousetrap, let alone cure the common cold. We at InventHelp have watched with interest recently as Zicam, the zinc-based homeopathic cold remedy, fights to stay on the market after reports of adverse health effects. Zicam, of course, is not the first health invention that's come under scrutiny. This month, InventHelp shares the story of some memorable and controversial health inventions.

Read more about misguided health inventions

What invention did the most to increase summertime attendance at the movies?

Air Conditioning. Before theaters had artificially cooled air, picture shows could get rather stuffy in the summertime heat. That is until inventor Willis Carrier conceived the idea for "controlled air" on a balmy night in 1902. The system he came up with was originally used in factories and schools, but it soon became standard at theaters – to the great delight of moviegoers.

Read more invention trivia from InventHelp