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PITCH TO AMERICA
COMPANIES ATTENDING INPEX® 2008
Articles for Inventors
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For More Invention News, Check Out Our New Sites! To help keep you updated on the latest news in technology and innovations between newsletters, we've developed two new supplements to our main InventHelp Web site – the Invention & Technology News site and the Gadget Girl Blog. |
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Famous Invention Disputes: Davy vs. Stevenson How many times have you watched a commercial for a new toy or a new tool and thought, "That was my idea!"? They say that great minds think alike, so it's no real surprise that simultaneous discovery is very common in the inventing world. Inventors have a knack for recognizing problems and developing solutions, but what happens when two inventors come up with the same solution to the same problem? The answer is, sometimes, a feud. |
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Three Easy Ways to Be a Better Inventor Here at InventHelp®, August is our favorite month because it's host to our favorite celebration: National Inventors Month! As you take time this month to reflect on important inventors and innovations, InventHelp® offers three simple ways to help you to improve your own inventing prowess! 1) Start Anytime It's never too late (or too early) to become an inventor. Some folks are born with the drive; others may not have their first great idea until well into the Golden Years. |
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A Recap of INPEX® 2007 For the inventing community, INPEX® is a chance to potentially network with fellow inventors, manufacturers and company representatives. This year's INPEX® followed in the tradition of bringing innovators and industry together under one roof. Held June 6-9, 2007, INPEX® featured over a thousand inventions from around the world. This unique environment is designed to help inventors gain exposure and obtain feedback on their ideas. Read more about INPEX® 2007 America's Largest Invention Trade Show |
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Coming Soon...INPEX® 2007! If you have an invention, INPEX® is just around the corner. INPEX® is America's Largest Invention Trade Show, and it offers inventors an opportunity to obtain feedback and attempt to gain exposure for their ideas. The good news is that it's not too late to sign up for INPEX®, the Invention & New Product Exposition. This year's show will be held June 6-9, 2007 at the Pittsburgh ExpoMart, a unique facility located just a short walk from shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Learn more about INPEX® America's Largest Invention Trade Show |
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Sturdy Birds: The Invention of Marshmallow Peeps® They come every Easter, like a little beady-eyed army. They come in many shapes - baby chicks, bunnies and other animals. And according to some urban legends, they're virtually indestructible. We're talking about Marshmallow Peeps®, either the most delicious or most disgusting Easter candy ever invented (depending on who you ask). In honor of the Easter holiday, InventHelp® presents the story of Peeps, perhaps the most unusual candy to grace the Easter basket. |
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American Inventor To Hold Auditions For Second Season The machine behind American Idol, Simon Cowell and his producers, are bringing back their ABC primetime reality show, AMERICAN INVENTOR, for a second season. The show will conduct a national search for America's hottest new invention and make one lucky inventor's idea a reality. The AMERICAN INVENTOR judges will conduct open casting calls starting in March in a variety of cities to give inventors a chance to get their voices heard. |
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Year in Review: Popular New Inventions from 2006 2006 was certainly an interesting year in the inventing world. In case you haven't heard, the best invention this year was: You! That's right, You (by way of YouTube) which beat out medical breakthroughs, pioneering technology and gadgets galore. Wondering what other inventions made the list for the year 2006? |
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Driving Innovation: How the Taxi Was Invented If you're like many New Year's Eve party-goers, perhaps you made a very important phone call after a night of celebration – a call to your local taxi company. In addition to being a safe ride home after a night of revelry, riding in a taxi can be a fun – albeit pricey – way to explore a city. Have you ever thought about what inventions paved the way for taxis? |
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World Business Review Selects InventHelp® as Invention Industry Expert What do companies like Apple Computer, Inc., Coca-Cola and InventHelp® have in common? They've each been selected as experts and leaders in their respective fields by the television series World Business Review. Hosted by General Norman Schwarzkopf, the weekly series is among the longest running programs utilizing the newsmagazine format. Read more about InventHelp's World Business Review appearance |
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Exhibiting Opportunity for Inventors If you have a housewares product or invention, join INPEX® and display it in the Inventor's Corner at the International Home and Housewares Show, March 11-13, 2007 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Sponsored by INPEX®, Inventor's Corner is a special program for inventors who would like to exhibit at a national trade show. Learn more about exhibiting at the 2007 International Home & Housewares Show |
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Portable Power: The Invention of Batteries It may be hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner – and with them comes the biggest shopping season of the year. As was the case in the past few years, electronics like MP3 players and digital cameras are sure to fly off the shelves this year. As a preface to the holiday season, InventHelp® presents a new twist on the powerful little inventions that keep our cameras flashing and our music flowing – batteries. |
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Health Food Junkies Beware: It's National Cookie Month! It's October, where sweets, tricks and treats reign supreme. This Halloween, children everywhere will don their best pirate, princess or punk rocker costumes and hit the streets in search of candy and more candy. With all the sugar-induced excitement around, another interesting holiday could slip right past you virtually unnoticed: National Cookie Month. Read more about the interesting histories of two cookie classics |
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Everyday Edisons TV Show Begins Season Two Casting Calls Thomas Edison was possibly one of the greatest inventors of all time. With more than 1,000 invention patents to his credit, Edison transformed the modern world with inventions such as the photograph, incandescent light bulb and talking motion picture. Now, a television program named in his honor is looking to find the next Edison among us! |
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Toilet Inventions: A Restroom Revolution! The toilet has probably been the butt of jokes ever since it was invented. Perhaps this is because the certain bodily functions associated with the toilet tend to make most people squeamish. However, the toilet is an integral part of the history of human hygiene, and that's no flush in the pan. |
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National Inventors Month: Celebrating Great "Everyday" Inventions For those of us involved in the world of inventing, August is a special month – it's National Inventor's Month! We at InventHelp® are excited that this time is set aside to celebrate the achievements of innovators and entrepreneurs, although we feel that 31 days is not nearly long enough to get the job done right! |
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INPEX® 2006 Recap: This Invention Show Was a "Knockout" At one of our largest exhibitor showings, more than 350 inventors from 20 countries around the world came together June 7-10 to exhibit their inventions at INPEX®, America's Largest Invention Trade Show. Presented by InventHelp® and held at the Greater Pittsburgh ExpoMart in Pittsburgh, Pa., the show featured innovations ranging from an upside-down Christmas tree, to new power tool and fitness ideas, to a love-detection collar for pets. |
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Back to the Beach: How Sunscreen, Surfboards and Water Wings Were Invented Now that summer's in full swing, many 9-to-5ers are ready to ditch the office and head to the beach for a week of fun in the sun. As a prelude to your summer getaway, InventHelp® presents several inventions that make a day at the beach more enjoyable. |
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Cool Beverage Inventions for Hot Summer Days Hot, sun-filled days and refreshing, ice-filled drinks are a match made in heaven. When the temperature rises, downing a glass of iced tea or lemonade is a sure-fire way to cool off. Today, iced tea and lemonade are staples of any outdoor picnic or get-together, but have you ever thought about the invention history of these tasty beverages? |
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A Taste of Innovation: The Inventors & Inventions Behind the Modern Cookout Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff of summer, and nothing evokes the feelings of summer better than the smell of food cooking on an open flame. In preparation for the holiday weekend, shopping lists suddenly change from the wintry fare of hearty soups and casseroles to hamburgers, hot dogs and condiments. But, have you ever wondered about the inventors and inventions behind these classic summer foods? |
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Go Fly a Kite! One stormy night in June, Ben Franklin had an interesting, and dangerous, idea. At the time, lightning was a terrifying force of nature and a great mystery. Franklin, motivated by his scientific background and natural curiosity about how things work, sought to prove that lightning was, in fact, electricity. And so the legend of Ben Franklin and his electrifying kite experiment was born. While flying a kite is an enjoyable springtime activity, you may be surprised how many important inventions are linked to kites. |
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Inventing in the Rain Sometimes, April showers bring new inventions instead of flowers. Whether we're trying to predict the weather or protect ourselves from it, rain clouds often prove to be a great inspiration for innovations. Today, when soggy weather thunders into town, people enjoy the convenience of weather forecasts, umbrellas and windshield wipers. Have you ever thought about what life was like before these inventions? |
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The Invention of Beer, a St. Patrick's Day Favorite St. Patrick's Day brings out the Irish in everyone. From shamrocks and leprechauns to green rivers and parades, March 17th is a day of celebration. For many revelers, a St. Patty's Day party would not be complete without one important provision: beer! Have you ever wondered what inventions paved the way for beer's journey from the brewery to the bar? |
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Black History Month: Celebrating African-American Inventors February is Black History Month. The contributions of Black Americans can be found in all facets of our nation's past, including the field of inventing. Many schoolchildren are familiar with famous 19th- and early 20th-century African-American inventors like George Washington Carver, Elijah McCoy and Madame C.J. Walker. However, most people are unaware of significant contributions by African-Americans in our country's more recent past. |
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Candy Canes and Silver Lanes: The Invention of a Holiday Favorite The holiday season is nearly upon us, and that means it's time to indulge in a favorite sugary wintertime delight – candy canes! Whether they're decorating storefronts, adorning Christmas trees or filling up stockings above the fireplace, candy canes are sure to be a prominent reminder of the month ahead. But did you ever wonder when candy canes were invented, or how they came to be so familiar in the winter landscape? |
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Inventing Halloween Traditions Ghosts, goblins and witches roaming the night streets in search of sugary rewards can only mean one thing: Halloween is here again! Yes, it's that time of the year for carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, dressing up in costumes and, of course, trick-or-treating. But have you ever wondered about the origins of these Halloween favorites? InventHelp® is pleased to present the stories of two enduring traditions – candy corn and jack-o'-lanterns – that you're sure to see plenty of this Halloween season. |
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INPEX® Exhibitors "Pitch to America" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Each year, the INPEX® publicity staff works diligently to encourage coverage of the show by various media outlets. INPEX® 2005 (held June 8-11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was no exception, as assorted newspapers, trade magazines, Internet media, and television and radio stations turned out to cover the event. Perhaps the biggest hit with exhibitors this year was The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which gave inventors the chance to present their inventions on a national stage. |
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Football Fever: Inventions that Shaped the Modern Game Throughout the southwestern Pennsylvania region where InventHelp® makes its home, the period from February to July is known as the "dark months" – a time when the rabid Steelers fans suffer from a condition called "football withdrawal." And so it is in many other football hotspots across the country. August, however, offers some hope for those affected by gridiron fever, as National Football League teams open training camps and begin preseason contests. InventHelp® is pleased to present the stories of two football-related inventions that fans are sure to see plenty of during the fall and winter months, when the pigskin is the undisputed king of the sporting world. |
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The Daily Commute: A Hotbed for Innovation? You're late for work and sitting in gridlocked traffic that shows no signs of clearing out anytime soon. Even if you manage to quell the road rage bubbling up inside of you, this isn't exactly the perfect setting for your next visionary idea – or is it? According to the results of the 2005 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index™ survey, more than 20 percent of American adults believe that their most creative thoughts come while traveling in a car. The Invention Index is an annual study measuring Americans' attitudes toward invention and innovation. This year's Index focused on the locations and conditions that best promote innovative thinking. |
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The Big Bang: How Fireworks Became the World's Most Popular Explosive What's the first thing you think of when someone mentions the Fourth of July? Sure, cookouts, the Liberty Bell, apple pie and the like may come to mind when commemorating our nation's birthday, but no Independence Day festivities would be complete without one essential highlight – fireworks, of course! From modest bottle rockets and sparklers to the most extravagant aerial displays, fireworks play an essential role in helping people celebrate not only the Fourth of July, but also countless other special occasions around the globe. But who invented fireworks, and how did they become such a time-honored, worldwide phenomenon? |
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Inventors Reflect on the INPEX® 2005 Experience This past June 8-11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, InventHelp® held its annual invention trade show, the Invention/New Product Exposition (INPEX®). For the 21st year, America's largest invention trade show provided a forum for inventors and entrepreneurs to exhibit their inventions and attempt to make personal contacts with business representatives. The show floor had a constant buzz as exhibitors sought to demonstrate their inventions, and attendees offered their feedback. Read what inventors are saying about the 2005 Invention Show |
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Summertime, and the Livin' Is Easy Ah, summer. Time for swimming, picnics, baseball games and all sorts of other fun in the sun. Throughout the long winter months, millions of people eagerly await the opportunity to partake in their favorite warm-weather pastimes. Some things are so ingrained as a part of summer tradition that it's hard to imagine the season without them. And yet, our enjoyment of the dog days wouldn't be quite the same if not for various summer-related innovations that we now take for granted. Read about some unlikely inventions that became summer favorites |
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Mothers of Invention In his 1957 book Inventors and Inventions, C.D. Tuska wrote, "The good Lord intended [women] to be mothers. They produce the inventors and help rear them, and that should be sufficient." Quite obviously, the sadly misguided Tuska never heard of Marion Donovan, Ann Moore, Bette Nesmith Graham or the myriad other women who were equally proficient as mothers and as inventors. From the windshield wiper to the Mars Rover to the first common business language for computers, history is filled with the monumental breakthroughs of these "mothers of invention." |
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The Legend of Louisville Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning stalked to the plate, eyes squinted, bat resting on his shoulder, ready to swing at his pitch. A warm spring breeze graced the field in Louisville and the late spring sun already promised the warmth of summer. It made Browning feel good, but didn't ease the doubts already creeping into his head. Find out how a teenager's invention changed the game of baseball |
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Internet Resources for Kid Inventors Surrounded by hundreds of inventions each day, it is no surprise that children have a natural inclination to brainstorm and create. Children's minds work overtime, wondering where their favorite toys come from, what they're made out of, and how they work. Their natural inquisitive nature sparks questions that develop into education and dialogue with their friends, family and educators. Numerous resources exist on the Web to help parents and educators facilitate these conversations, as well as provide opportunities for young inventors to showcase their ideas. |
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Thomas Edison Adds Motion To Pictures As inventors go, Thomas Edison's contributions are undeniable. But beyond his inventions of the light bulb and phonograph, his development of fully functional research and development laboratories in Menlo Park and West Orange, New Jersey resulted in some of his greatest overall achievements. By hiring and directing others in their work, his support of innovation and scientific discovery created many more inventions than any one person is capable of. One such invention from Edison's brood was the development of motion pictures. Learn how Thomas Edison paved the way for the modern film industry |
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Tips For Videotaping Your Invention The dawn of the digital age makes it possible for people to shoot and edit their own home movies. If you have a prototype or model of your invention, you may be considering creating a video to help explain your idea and demonstrate how it works. A video can be a concise, visual way to show exactly what your invention looks like, how it works and how it may help a user. Also, it might be more cost effective to send videotapes to prospective reviewers rather than sending large prototypes. And if you only have one prototype, it may be safer to send a video. You can always create another video, but your prototype may not be easily replaced. By following these tips, you should be able to put together an invention video profile. |
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An Invention Made For Valentine's Day Ahh, Valentine's Day: a time for helpless romantics to send flowers, profess their undying love and pass out heart-shaped candy inscribed with coy little missives of devotion. Foodgeeks.com writes, "Those little candy hearts with Valentine quotes could possibly be the greatest thing invented to celebrate Valentine's Day." Find out how candy Conversation Hearts became a Valentine's Day staple |
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How To Photograph Your Invention Model Or Prototype Photography for most of us is simply a way to preserve family memories. But inventors, too, may find a use for a photograph of their invention. Accordingly, independent inventors can attempt to harness this tool without hiring a professional photographer. Just follow the tips here. Read InventHelp's tips on how to photograph your invention prototype |
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The Man Who Saved Christmas A.C. Gilbert is a famous toy inventor credited with 150 patents. In 1918, he also became known as "The Man Who Saved Christmas." However, Gilbert followed an unexpected path to receive this title. Find out how A.C. Gilbert became known as "The Man Who Saved Christmas" |
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InventHelp® Celebrates The Season By Giving For more than twenty years, InventHelp® has made its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our parent company, Technosystems, and all our subsidiaries encourage our employees to participate in community service activities by sponsoring company-wide events to help those in need. InventHelp® is proud of its history of partnering with several organizations during the holidays each year in the hopes of making the holidays a little brighter. This year was no different. |
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All I Want For The Holidays Adults sometimes lose sight of the real meaning of the holiday season: that being toys, of course. Sure the quest for toys doesn't necessarily subside as we grow older, just the types of toys we want and our methods of obtaining them change. When we grow up, we get jobs and buy them ourselves. But as children, our only recourse is our birthdays and the holidays. |
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A Turkey Renaissance According to Barbour International's Web site bayou-classics.com, their invention of a new cooking tool has caused a new method of cooking turkey to sweep the nation that may affect your Thanksgiving dinner: deep frying the Thanksgiving turkey. In spite of its growing attractiveness as an alternative to traditionally baked bird, most people meet the concept with skepticism. They believe it will be done "Pittsburgh Rare" (burnt on the outside and raw in the middle). Find out how Rodney Barbour helped redefine the art of cooking turkey |
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Celebrating Harvesting Milestones In They Made America, a book about innovators who helped build America, author Harold Evans paints Cyrus McCormick as an innovative businessman who pioneered practices such as extending credit, providing after-sale service and authorizing agents to sell his products to increase the reach of his business. But Evans notes that none of it would have been possible unless McCormick was first an inventor. Read more about how inventions have impacted the way crops are harvested |
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Inventions and the Presidency Ever since George Washington signed the first Bill into law establishing the US patent system, the office of the presidency and the world of inventing have been forever entwined, either directly or indirectly. In this election year, InventHelp® is pleased to share these invention stories and how they relate to our United States presidents. Learn how inventions influenced Washington, Van Buren, Reagan and others |
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Lamberd Brothers Share The Need For Speed InventHelp® clients and past INPEX® exhibitors Robin and Gary Lamberd spent their Labor Day holiday taking part in more than the traditional backyard picnic or barbecue. With Utah's beautiful Newfoundland Mountains as a backdrop, and the Bonneville Salt Flats at their feet, the twosome set out to establish the first ever national land speed record for a stand-up scooter, riding their invention, the "Extreme Scooter." |
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Walter Camp: Innovator of Modern American Football Ask someone in Pittsburgh, PA – the headquarters of InventHelp® – who invented football and they'll probably say Chuck Noll. After all, he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. However, in Dallas they might say Tom Landry; in Chicago, Mike Ditka; and in San Francisco, Bill Walsh. Ask video gamers and they'll tell you John Madden invented football. |
 | Lawns: An American Obsession It's almost fall in the Northern Hemisphere when many a homeowner's mind turns to leaf removal. It has been an American custom to listen to a Sunday football game on the radio while raking leaves, mulching gardens and winterizing the lawnmower. |
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Sloan's Conception of the Corporation "His ideas were so clearly correct that we have forgotten that they were an invention." These are the words Dr. Schein of MIT's Alfred P. Sloan School of Management uses to sum up the contributions of Alfred Sloan. Sometimes inventions that come in the form of ideas are so significant to our society that we actually forget they were invented at one point in time. Alfred Sloan's conception of the modern American corporation is one of these inventions. Before Sloan, people had a totally different concept of the Corporation |
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SBA – Small Business Development Center The Small Business Development Center is a program of the U.S. Government's Small Business Association that provides assistance to small business owners (and to those thinking about starting a small business) in areas such as business start up, management and growth. |
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Chester Carlson and the Invention of the Photocopier At the age of 12 Chester Carlson told his cousin Roy, "Someday, I'm going to make a great invention." Throughout his life, Carlson would walk from place to place with a notebook in his hand and jot down ideas for changing the world. He was always looking for ways to make life easier for people. Learn how Chester Carlson came to invent the photocopying process |
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Contests for Inventors Did you know there are contests for inventors? Some are geared towards high school students, some are run by corporations and some are sponsored by universities. |
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One Man's Mistake is Another's Inspiration They are probably all over your computer at work. You use them at home to post the shopping list on the fridge, to leave a telephone message where it will be seen, or to flag a page in a catalog. They even come in a software version so you can remind yourself of tasks and appointments right on your computer screen. Have you guessed yet? That's right, we're talking about – Post It® Notes. Art Fry gives his 'Characteristics of Inventors' at INPEX® Inventors University™ |
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Thinking Inside the Box Whoever said "only the stupid criminals get caught" never read Prisoners' Inventions, a book about the indomitable inventive spirit written and illustrated by an inmate named Angelo and put together by Temporary Services, a Chicago art company. |
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Michigan House and Senate Resolutions Encourage Intellectual Property Protection On October 30 and November 5, 2003, respectively, SR 188 and HR 164, entitled "Intellectual Property Protection," were introduced to the Michigan Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor and Michigan House Committee on Commerce. |
 | Skylines: Innovation's Impact on the Rise of Humanity Human advancement can be traced through inventions. Even things that aren't thought of as inventions can be attributed to one person or another. Take the modern city skyline. As mankind progresses, buildings get taller and these buildings form a skyline. But can the creation of the modern city skyline be credited to an individual or individuals? |
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Tips For Inventors Exhibiting at a TradeShow So, you've taken the plunge and decided to exhibit your invention or new product idea at a trade show. What's next? How do you prepare? How can you optimize your time at the show? Here are Ten Tips to help you maximize your experience. |
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InventHelp's Opinion: United States Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act of 2003 On April 3, 2002 Bill H.R. 1561 entitled the "United States Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act of 2003" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This Bill outlines a schedule of increased patent fees to help fund the USPTO's "Strategic 21st Century Plan." Read InventHelp's opinion on the US Patent Office's Fee Modernization Act of 2003 |
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