Mothers of invention

Personal experiences of four Prince George’s County women planted the seed for new products and the realization of their dreams

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Barbara L. Salisbury⁄The Gazette Clinton resident Shirley Hayden sets up her ‘Unique Seat,’ which is a way to pack everything someone would need for a day in the outdoors in the space an average backpack needs.

The four African American women — Shirley Hayden, Gwendolyn Wilson, Rotha Cain and Marie Lambert — each took different paths to becoming an inventor and obtaining a patent for their idea. Inventions & New Product Exposition publicist Chrissa Chverchko identified those four women as the only current active inventors in Prince George’s County that they know about.

What unites them is that each of them is a mother and they all started on that path with a thought similar to ‘You know, there ought to be a product that ...”

For all seasons

Carrying several items to enjoy a good time at the beach or for a picnic can be a hassle. To alleviate all the extra items, Hayden of Clinton created ‘‘The Unique Seat.” It’s an all-in–one outdoor system package.

‘‘It’s a lounging system for any outdoor enthusiasts,” Hayden said. ‘‘You can carry your indoor comfort to outdoor fun.”

Hayden said she began formulating her idea of the Unique Seat into reality four years ago. The patent is pending. The original product consists of two seats, which convert into soft pillows. The seats come with a two-sided fleece blanket with a water-resistant bottom with weighted corners.

‘‘The great thing about the Unique Seat is that it is great for all seasons and any kind of weather element,” Hayden said. ‘‘The blanket can be used for hand warmers during those cold football games.”

The seats and blankets can be used separately. The Unique Seat can be carried in an optional 8-pounds, hands-free backpack or backpack with handles.

Tips for inventors Do your research on your idea, make sure it does not exist and write down what the service or purpose is, why you want it and why someone else would want it. Research any possible services that will help develop and market invention. Have a support system that will encourage you and help you along your journey; know that acquiring a patent takes at least a year, a patent pending takes some months. Research manufacturers, know what they specialize in Understand how the state and local laws of a manufacturer may impact your bottom line

As quickly as the idea came to her, bringing the product to the market has not been the same.

‘‘It has been a very long and tedious process,” Hayden said. ‘‘For any aspiring inventor they have to remember it is going to take patience and persistence.”

Throughout the process of getting her product up and running Hayden has entered several invention competitions, including the Whirlpool Mother of Inventions Contest last year. She placed in the top 100 out of 1,700 applicants.

‘‘Before getting involved you have to do your research,” Hayden said. ‘‘Also surround yourself with people who will motivate you to stay focused on the prize.”

Hayden said she is still entertaining offers from manufacturers that are interested in her product.

Along with being a regional sales manager for a nutritional supplement company, Hayden is married with a son.

‘‘Being a mother who is active in her son’s and husband’s lives and trying to establish a product, you lose lots of sleep,” Hayden said.

Visit the Web site www.theuniqueseat.com or call 301-877-2345.

Dignity for mother

After caring for her mother for approximately four months, Wilson of Fort Washington began her journey to the creation of the ‘‘Surround Shower Chair.”

‘‘There are very few comfortable products for senior citizens, people with disabilities or just people rehabbing from an injury that they can solely operate comfortably themselves,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that she could see the embarrassment in her mother’s eyes when she used to bathe her and that’s why she created the chair.

‘‘My mother personified a strong African-American woman who had eight children but raised four children alone,” Wilson said. ‘‘Having the chair available for mom would have allowed her to keep her dignity until the end.”

Wilson’s mother died in 1998.

She said it allows the elderly and disabled people to keep their independence and dignity for personal uses, such as bathing.

The Surround Shower Chair offers adjustable legs, which allows the chair to be used in various bathing environments, such as a standard soaking or Jacuzzi bathtub and shower.

‘‘The major highlight of the shower is that is has its own built-in plumbing, along with flexible showerheads,” Wilson said.

The chair is operable by most individuals with upper mobility with little or no assistance, giving them independence.

Wilson said the hardest part for her since attaining her patent in 2005 has been finding a manufacturer. She is looking for a manufacturer interested in product or to lease patent.

Wilson said getting her patent number was the most gratifying experience, one that caused her to cry tears of joy.

‘‘It’s important to find a good patent attorney,” Wilson said. ‘‘Make sure that they make as many claims as possible that’s unique to your invention.”

Through the ups and downs of her journey, soldiers in Iraq and seeing them in the news have motivated Wilson to see her product come to fruition.

‘‘Knowing that these young men and women can come back with missing limbs ... having them to adjust their lives but still having their dignity and sense of independence is something I truly care about,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she is looking to have the product in rehabilitation centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Along with the Surround Shower Chair, Wilson has invented two other products. To date Wilson has not entered any competitions but is looking to enter her first in the next round of tradeshows between Aug. 18 to Feb. 24.

Wilson worked for the State of Maryland Human Resources for Social Services and currently owns a janitorial service.

‘‘There are absolutely no devices such as the Surround Shower Chair on the market and I have the patent to prove it,” Wilson said. ‘‘My invention will transform the lives of so many people by giving them back a portion of their independence and dignity, which we all deserve.”

Call 301-292-5301 for information.

Hidden pouch

While on her many trips across the world with her husband Richard, Cain of Clinton wondered why wasn’t there a product that could hold personable items (identification card, passport, and other valuables) very close to her that were hidden.

The idea of the ‘‘Leg Pocket” was conceived five years ago, and debuted on the market a year ago. The garment is for men and women who want to keep valuables close to them but in a hidden spot that is not a wallet or pursue. The leg garter with a wallet attached can be worn on many parts of the body including the thighs, ankles, neck, wrists, calves and biceps.

‘‘When you travel or go aboard there are specific items you need and before I would dig in my purse, scrambling to find what I needed,” Cain said. ‘‘Which is very unlady like.”

The retiree said that her biggest support system throughout the years in developing the Leg Pocket has been her husband.

‘‘He has always been there for me,” Cain said. ‘‘His approach has been ‘you think, I’ll write,’ allowing me to be creative and come up with the next idea.”

Richard Cain writes all her thoughts down and handles the paper work.

Cain said it’s important to find someone who can assist you on your idea, either helping with administrative work or development because succeeding by yourself is not possible.

Breaking into the fashion world is not easy, Cain said. The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York has helped Cain in her process. Cain said if she had known the process, she would have done a few things different.

‘‘I would have taken my prototype to INPEX,” Cain said. ‘‘Instead of trying to go straight to the market.”

INPEX offers aspiring inventors information on how to apply for a patent, how the process works, offers seminars and shares resources with inventors, Cain said.

At the June INPEX Trade Show in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cain had great success. In the apparel category with 16 inventors, Cain received a bronze medal for the Leg Pocket and $1,000 for her invention.

Cain said her focus is squarely on her invention, which she hopes to expand.

‘‘I want to get my product in as many stores as I can,” Cain said.

Before Cain retired she was a computer professional for the United States government. Call 301-297-4946 or visit www.flatterme.com.

Grandchild inspires

While Lambert of Glen Dale took her grandson to Chucky Cheese two years ago, she wanted him to interact with other children, while giving him some space. The idea for the ‘‘Walk On Baby Walker” was conceived.

‘‘Later that night I woke up at 3 o’clock in the morning, I was thinking about it the whole night,” Lambert said. ‘‘I began drawing my ideas and writing that entire night.”

The Walk On Baby Walker is a mixture between a stroller and walker, Lambert said.

The invention has a cloth cushion for the baby to sit in and safety latches, but is without the round ball at the bottom or the tray in front of the baby that are accustomed to most baby walkers.

‘‘Daycare Centers will love it,” Lambert said.

Since receiving her patent this May, Lambert is eagerly anticipating the day she will see her product in the stores. Lambert is collaborating with a sister company of INPEX named InventHelp. InventHelp receives 20 percent of Lambert’s royalties from invention.

Although the process has been long, Lambert said her three children have kept her spirits up and continue to motivate her.

‘‘My children are more excited than I am,” Lambert said.

Lambert said researching everything about an invention including a company interested in providing services is vital to the success of the invention.

Lambert is a 19-year employee of Strayer University in Takoma Park. For information call 202-722-8126.