Podcast
20 Webcam Cover Eyebloc ® – Inventors CJ Isakow
“Eyebloc” Magnetic webcam cover’s Inventor, CJ Isakow, discusses his pitch to Shark Tank and experience as a serial Entrepreneur. His past experience includes the launch of Shift.com, which has risen to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and financing.
In 1975, the first portable computer was created by IBM and weighed 55 pounds. Bill Moggridge designed the first laptop in modern form in 1979-80 and released it in 1982. Since then, it has evolved into the lightweight, high speed processor laptops we know today. IBM’s ThinkPad was the first modern laptop with a built-in camera created in 1996, but was not popular as it was very expensive. By the turn of the 21st century, it became more common for webcam-integrated laptops.
One unintended consequence of the built-in webcam was the risk of hackers, as malware allowed them to turn on a user’s webcam without their knowledge, now known as “camfecting”.
In 2013, Eyebloc sought to combat this widespread issue by creating a magnetic webcam cover. Inventor and Founder CJ Isakow developed the company into what it is today. In its early development, Eyebloc’s design began as a clip to attach to a laptop that would cover the camera. By 3D printing a prototype of the design, he was then featured on Shark Tank to present the product to investors. He then obtained a design patent and trademark with the USPTO.
Prior to Eyebloc, consumers used informal solutions, such as paper and tape, to cover their webcams.
In 2018, Isakow also purchased a utility patent of a similar webcam cover, Isakow was able to grow his company, popularizing the computer accessory. Today, Eyebloc is available to purchase on its company website and on Amazon.
Although his idea began as a simple solution to a problem he recognized, he was determined to turn it into reality with his knowledge as an engineer and businessman.
If you have an idea for an invention that you want to protect, contact our office for a free discovery call. We can discuss more in-depth how you can protect your invention.
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19 Manufacturer and Benefits of Sharing A Brand Story Solemate Inventor – Becca Brown
In the 1950s, Roger Vivier and Andre Perugia popularized the stiletto. The high heel shoe quickly spread across Europe and the United States.
Heels have been a fashion statement over the years, but some struggles have come with wearing heels. High heels are not ideal when walking through grass, bricks, sidewalks, or wooden decks. These types of material on the ground can damage your heels and cause instability as you walk.
The founders of Solemates invented a product to prevent your heels from being damaged and help you walk comfortably on any surface. The heel-protector is clear and increases the surface area on the bottom of the heel. The larger surface area of the heel-protector allows the heel to maintain itself above uneven ground so that heels are not stuck or jammed.
With any new business, you have to come up with a plan. Becca and Monica wrote a business plan for Solemates while they were in business school at Columbia University. Eighteen months later, they started to sell the product. During this time, they worked on Solemates part-time to discover what the business needed to become successful in the marketplace.
To move forward with Solemates, Monica and Becca had to take the first step to protect their ideas. While the founders were in school, they became familiar with provisional patents and decided that this was the best route to protect their vision.
Becca found an excellent patent lawyer who could educate her on the patent search and felt confident throughout the process. Her nerves started to kick in when she had to wait two years to receive an official patent, but luckily her patent was granted, and it assured her Solemates could compete in the marketplace.
There are many obstacles that come with developing an idea. Becca discusses the difficulties that entrepreneurs face in the product development stage in our live webinar. Although she faced barriers, the idea of someone else coming up with her invention motivated her to continue.
As a female entrepreneur, Becca faced the male-dominated engineer, design, and manufacturing industry. At times, it was frustrating when engineers didn’t understand Solemates’ benefit and dismissed her idea. Despite that, Becca wanted to work with people who recognized the value of Solemates.
Becca also overcame the strenuous process of finding a material that did not compromise her products’ aesthetics in the manufacturing stage. She wanted her product to be transparent and flexible, but it wasn’t easy finding the right material that wouldn’t break.
After the manufacturing and design stage, Becca and Monica had to think about marketing. One of the most significant advantages that they have is being a female-operated brand. Their first product, the heel-protector, was targeted at women consumers who had the same problem. Since the founders launched a business based on an issue they had, it allows them to connect with consumers authentically.
Before the rise of social media, founders were reluctant to share their stories because they fear it made their brand appear small. Becca encourages founders to talk about their brand stories. Today, consumers enjoy knowing a brand story and are more likely to buy a product when they are familiar with a brand story, especially if they have an innovative solution in the market.
You may have an idea that will resonate with a specific target audience. Like, Becca and Monica, many inventors and entrepreneurs will face barriers when bringing a new invention
18 Charcoal Inventors Sustainable Grilling Prime 6 ® – Riki & Oron Franco
In this interview, The Patent Professor® sits down with Riki and Oron Franco, inventors and founders of Prime 6®. Prime 6® is pure carbon charcoal that allows you over 6 hours of grilling time. Riki and Oron have been entrepreneurs long before the inception of Prime 6®. This invention was their reintegration into the entrepreneurial world after a 2-year hiatus. The successful launch of their product produced over $300,000 in sales.
Riki and Oron share with The Patent Professor® all the intricacies of being a successful inventor. Riki and Oron were careful enough to add innovation not only to their product but also to packaging. Oron says there’s a lot of logistics that you must figure out to launch a product. When we see a product on the shelves, we often don’t think of the manpower it took to place it on the shelf for us to buy. Riki also adds that success isn’t linear and often pulls you in multiple directions. Oron agrees with Riki and says that all you need is one yes to get your product off the ground!
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17 Public Relationships in the Inventors Community – Andrea Pass
Andrea Pass has over 30 years of experience in developing and releasing marketing campaigns for all types of brands and products. In this interview, Andrea highlights the importance of public relations in the inventor community. With the increased amount of content consumption in our fast-paced multitasking world, having brand awareness is essential to being able to market your invention effectively. Andrea discusses how “pay to play” and “evergreen press” options might be the most economic and marketing sound option for inventors looking to get their product out there. Some products are useful for niche communities and don’t demand general media marketing, but this doesn’t mean that you still shouldn’t or can’t advertise your product to the public. Knowing your target audience can help you create relevant content for press outreach. Andrea also recommends investing in a publicist for inventors, like herself, to make sure that your product marketing is done the right way! Andrea notes that the key to product publicity is simplicity, having a solid marketing plan, and making sure you interact with experts along the way.
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16 Medical Inventions – Enduralock® – Harold Hess
Before becoming an inventor, Dr. Harold worked in the medical field. He was always busy with patients in the emergency room and other areas. Once Dr.Harold moved his practice, more free time to think of ideas was available. Dr. Harold Hess was in his 50’s when he came up with his first idea. Now, he has had over 60 patents in the U.S. and worldwide.
Enduralock is one of Hess’s companies. It is innovative nuts and bolts that are permanent, reversible, and reusable. This product allows builders to remove and reinstall the nuts and bolts with ease, even without tools such as a ranch nearby. The Enduralock is beneficial to different industries such as aircraft and other subfields in the engineering industry.
Harold encourages inventors to have endurance and adapt to change. Due to COVID 19, he has had to change the industry in which he conducted business. The aerospace companies were not doing well, so he started focusing on spacecraft. Hess adapted his business by developing and maintaining business relationships with companies outside of the United States. In the live webinar, Hess expressed that he did not want to limit his business to only working with companies in the U.S. As an entrepreneur and inventor, there will be changes that occur. You have to determine how to overcome challenges that come along the journey.
Inventors don’t have to become an expert in their invention’s field. As long as their creation is innovative, they can make an impact in the industry. Although Harold is not an engineer, he created a valuable product in the aircraft and spacecraft industry.
If you have an idea for an invention that you want to protect, contact our office for a free discovery call. We can discuss more in-depth how you can protect your invention.
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15 How to get rid of Raccoons – The Cricker Pricker® – Inventor Joseph Balistreri
The Patent Professor® has the opportunity to speak with Joseph Balistreri, CEO, and inventor of the Critter Pricker®. The Cricker Pricker® is a humane pest control device that keeps raccoons away from any trash bins, attics, and pools on your property!
Balistreri has been working in the pest control industry for over a decade and had identified this problem early on in his career.
He shares with The Patent Professor® that one of his most early obstacles was waiting until he could save enough money to obtain a patent and truly get his idea off the ground.
Joseph understood that the innovative process takes patience and hard work and even advises other inventors to take a similar approach. “It took me two years to file a patent application because I funded everything through my business.” Currently, Joseph’s product is such a success that demands are outpacing product manufacturing.
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14 Licensing Products & Receiving Royalties – Product Developer Sef Chang
Sef Chang develops products and licenses them to companies. Many people are unfamiliar with the option of licensing their intellectual property. In this interview with the Patent Professor®, Sef defined what licensing is in the product development industry, discussed his start as a product developer, and more.
The word licensing can be an unfamiliar term when you associate it with product development. Licensing is renting. Think of your intellectual property as real estate property. When you buy real estate, your name is on the deed; Therefore, you own that property. You have the right to rent out the property for additional income or sell it to make a profit.
It’s a similar concept of having tenants at a property that you own. A patent is a document similar to a deed because it identifies the owners of intellectual property. You can license your intellectual property to companies. As the intellectual property owner, you can revoke companies from selling your product if they do not pay royalties.
Licensing is a business model that is not specific to a product. An idea like a logo, design, song, or artwork can be licensed and considered intellectual property.
Sef discovered licensing products after graduating college. He submitted many product ideas to a novelty company. The company was interested in a licensing deal for a miniature keychain back scratcher. The back scratcher sold 180,000 units and kicked off his career as a product developer.
Product developers are valuable to corporations because new products launch annually to produce revenue. Corporations like Honda Civic and Apple need product developers to construct the latest consumer goods.
As the corporate world is evolving, research and development departments are downsizing staff, leaving internal teams overworked and unable to deliberate fresh, innovative ideas. To continue progressing with the most current products, corporations work with more independent contractor product developers and inventors. As a result of this challenge, there are more opportunities for individuals to enter the industry.
In a business deal, inventors and companies discussed negotiation and royalty percentages to determine how to move forward. Three components inventors and contractors contemplate in the licensing negotiation process are years of a licensing agreement, exclusivity of the deal, and innovative advancement of the product.
Sef believes that it is best to gauge companies’ interests, calculate quotas and costs before discussing specific royalty percentages. Understanding your product’s value and knowing what you want will help contracted product developers dictate what deals to proceed with and what deals not to take.
Sef wants inventors to switch their perspectives and recognize the value that they bring to businesses and corporations to expand open innovation. Some inventors think that companies have all the weight and fail to realize their importance. Inventors and independent product developers save companies money because corporations gain a fully-developed product without spending money on the trial and error process. As mentioned before, overworked internal product developers can hinder companies from developing fresh ideas. On his YouTube channel, Sef share and teach others what it is like to be a product developer and the process of licensing products.
If you have questions about licensing, you can email Sef at Sef@houseofroyalties.com.
Join our Facebook group, The Inventor’s Mastermind, to stay connected with other inventors. The group is a way you can learn more about protecting your idea with a patent. Stay up to date with new inventor interviews by following us on social media.
If you are looking for a patent attorney to protect an idea that you have. C
13 How To Overcome Countless Obstacles – Shower Shirt® – Inventor Lisa Crites
Watch The Patent Professor® interview principle inventor Lisa Crites. Lisa created The SHOWER SHIRT® to serve as a protective garment for breast cancer and chest surgery patients. Before inventing The SHOWER SHIRT®, Lisa, a breast cancer survivor, would be forced to shower in a plastic bag after her bilateral mastectomy surgery. Lisa says that what inspired her innovation was dealing with the discomfort of trying to shower post-op. Crites acted as her own research team, using her multiple surgeries after her diagnosis to test out prototypes for her invention. She says that this along with doing sufficient research about her product was probably some of the biggest obstacles faced. “It was really important for me to be able to educate my audience about my product.”
Lisa also talks about how she didn’t have many cheerleaders at the start of her journey but that never stopped her from continuing the process. She was passionate about her product and knew it had the potential to serve so many people. Despite encountering countless obstacles, Crites received her patent in 2011 and The SHOWER SHIRT® is a multiple-time award-winning invention.
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12 Solving an Everyday Problem with a New Idea – Baby Bottle Brush Bib – Inventor Bessie Lee-Cappell
Bessie Lee-Cappell is the inventor of Baby Bottle Brush Bib, a baby bottle brush that prevents splashback when washing bottles.
As a new working mom, washing baby bottles was unavoidable, and Bessie was quickly annoyed with getting her professional clothes dirty. But, with three kids at home and cleaning baby bottles, it didn’t take long for her work clothes to be full of stains.
She looked in the market to see if there was anything more convenient and would help avoid the mess that cleaning a baby bottle can cause. There wasn’t anything on the market that existed, so she created a new product. Other parents who had the same experience could also benefit from her creation.
Bessie started to develop her prototype with yoga mats. After finalizing her idea, she went to a patent attorney to protect her invention and obtain a provisional patent that helped her launch her business. Today, she has expanded her products within Baby Bottle Brush Bib Company to include pacifiers and teether clips.
Bessie has always been an achiever. She is the first person in her family to graduate high school, college, and graduate school. After patenting her idea, she became the first inventor in her family.
Her inventor story shows other inventors that you can have a great idea by solving a problem. It all starts with an idea.
Check out Bessie Lee-Cappell’s website to find her products, www.babybottlebrushbib.com.
Click this link to see more inventors’ interviews, Inventor Interviews – YouTube.
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11 Overcoming Mental Readblocks as an Inventor – Hanging Shower Caddy – Dana Knowles
Dana Knowles invented the hanging shower caddy to stop the shower curtain from blowing in on you. Other shower caddies in the marketplace didn’t prevent this problem. To solve this issue, some people use magnets and weights, which would work only short-term or not at all.
Dana had to protect her invention by not discussing it with everyone. Although close friends and family members wanted her to succeed, she couldn’t tell them everything to safeguard her vision. She made the intentional decision to only discuss her idea with people who could help her get the results that she wanted. Networking was the first step that Dana took to meet the right people.
Another mental roadblock that Dana had to overcome was hearing the word no. Dana pitched her idea to 80 companies, and 52 of them said no. Luckily, Dana decided to keep going because she knew that her idea was good and even received confirmation from her husband that it was a good idea.
Pitching her idea was a skill that Dana had to learn to get investors to invest in her idea. Inventors only need one yes to get their inventions in the right places, and Dana received a yes to license her concept.
Grand Fusion Housewares marketed the hanging shower caddy and distributed it to companies like Amazon.
If you want to invent a product to license it to other companies, make sure that you take the right steps to protect your idea with a bulletproof patent.
Contact my office to set up a free discovery call to discuss details on how to protect your idea.
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10 Serial Inventor With Over 100 Patents Shares His Journey – Babak Forutanpour
In this week’s episode, we decided to bring inventor Babak Forutanpour on the show so that our viewers can ask him questions. Babak has over 100 patents on children’s toys, cell phone accessories, gym accessories, and more. He made an appearance on NBC’s Today Show and Fox Morning News.
As a kid, Babak was interested in entrepreneurship and expressed that by having car washes, painting fences, and putting together magic shows. After college, he worked in Hollywood for ten years doing special effects for movies like Space Jam with Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan. Instead of pursuing his childhood passion as an entrepreneur or inventing, he enjoyed working in computer graphics and 3D.
Babak’s inventor mindset started to kick in when he worked at Qualcomm, a company that makes chips for cell phones. His creative problem-solving ability emerged in the lab conducting research that improved the camera phone’s quality to protect the company’s IP.
His experience at Qualcomm, combined with his entrepreneurial tenacity, inspired him to patent his first invention. Babak mentioned how working with a team can help improve an idea because everyone can ask questions and encourage each other to look at different perspectives. Driven by the team environment, it didn’t take long for Babak to reach 100 patents.
Besides working with a team, another component that helps Babak develop his patents is knowing the power of simple ideas. When it comes to inventing a product, you shouldn’t pressure yourself to design something completely new. Your idea can be simple and solve a problem. That’s what one of Babak’s latest inventions does.
The baker buddy is a patent product that allows you to bake at home with everything you need in one area. Its crescent shape can be placed over a mixing bowl and includes a trash can, mixing spoon holder, recipe card holder, and an egg cracker. Measuring ingredients is convenient with The Baker Buddy. With its compartment measuring cups, you can measure your ingredients and tilt the mixture into a mixing bowl.
He came up with the idea when his wife wanted to crack an egg directly into the bowl and not spill it over into the countertop. The Baker Buddy allows people who love baking not to have to deal with the messy clean-up process.
Inventing a new product and bringing it into the market is a skill that Babak has gained over the years. For new inventors, Babak encourages them to practice finding problems. In your daily routine, discover three things that need to be approved.
What annoyances are you dealing with in your daily routine? Inventions like the coffee sleeves prevent you from burning your fingers with a hot cup of coffee. Once you find an annoyance, you can develop your idea and protect it with a bulletproof patent.
If you have an idea that you want to protect, contact our office to schedule a free discovery call. We can discuss more in-depth what will be best for you to begin the journey of moving full throttle with your idea.
9 – A Natural and Pesticide Free Alternative to Pest Control – Inventor of Stay Away® – Kari Warberg Block
Kari is the inventor of Stay Away®, a natural and pesticide free alternative to pest control. Kari was originally a farm wife concerned with the collateral damage she had to deal with every time a rodent would ruin her crops. Existent pest control measures were unsafe, putting herself, her family, her pets, and pests in danger. Her compassion for animals allowed her to create a product that wouldn’t use harmful chemicals and pesticide to kill pests but rather urge them away from her crops. This innovation inspired Kari to create Stay Away®!
Kari speaks with The Patent Professor® about all the trials and tribulations that led her to success. Primarily, Kari dealt with a lot of financial issues when trying to get her iconic idea off the ground. Kari also faced intimidation throughout the beginning of her process because she lacked the education experience that was often needed to create a product like this. She says that recognizing innovation is brought into the world by inventors can help combat these feelings. Kari emphasizes that persistence, asking for help from other inventors, and simply realizing that “the problem presents the solution” is what brings true success.
8 – Shush It’s a Secret! – Inventor of Hanging Secrets® – Frances Prado
The Patent Professor® has a chance to talk to Frances Prado, CEO of Ageless Beautiful Clever Creations, LLC and inventor of Hanging Secrets®.
Prado’s story is one of humble beginnings with her family immigrating to Southern California and working in the fields under extreme conditions. Prado and her family battled homelessness, forcing her to live in survival mode during her childhood. This same resilience and strength gave her the courage to put forth her idea to better organize women’s intimates!
“It takes a woman to know what a woman needs,” says Frances when discusses how she came up with her useful product. Hanging Secrets® addresses a widespread issue many women face with trying to organize and preserve their intimate garments. Prado also mentions how important it is to just get your idea out of your head and on paper. Her action is what has made her a successful inventor today! Being amongst the 7% of female inventors, Frances hopes to encourage and inspire other women to take action towards their dreams.
7 – Window & Door Industry – Inventor of FlexScreen® – Joe Altieri
Joe Altieri is the inventor of FlexScreen, a revolutionary product in the window and home industry. FlexScreen is easy to use, clean, and store. It can be installed and removed with minimum effort. Another great feature of the flexible window screen is that it’s undetected so that homeowners can enjoy their window view. Like many other successful garage inventors, Joe started working on his prototype in his garage. There were many sleepless nights in Joe’s early stages of inventing FlexScreen, but he was determined to find a suitable material that would stick to the mesh portion of the window screen. He was so eager to discover a solution that he would forget to eat, and his wife would have to bring food to the garage. Although Joe had the support of his wife, the window and door industry was resistant to the innovative change that the FlexScreen brought to the market. Joe started to market to homeowners and then manufacturers began to take an interest in FlexScreen. This approach allowed Joe to gain success with his product. After overcoming challenges, Joe Altieri made an appearance on the ABC hit show Shark Tank. After pitching FlexScreen to the sharks, he was able to strike a deal with Lori Greiner, “The Queen of QVC.” Since the show, FlexScreen generated 5 million in sales and expanded distribution to five manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada. Joe’s advice to other inventors is to keep it simple and understand that it will take delayed gratification to reach success.
6 – BetterBlocks® – Toy Inventor Generating Over $75 Million in Revenue – Warren Wilson
The Patent Professor® had the opportunity to sit down with Warren Wilson, the inventor of BetterBlocks®! In this interview, Wilson discusses how an idea he didn’t even consider to be one of his best became so successful. BetterBlocks® is a toy comprised of building blocks with over $75 million in revenue. When Wilson started pitching the idea to potential investors, he was thousands of dollars in debt but didn’t let that stop him. Wilson talks about the challenges associated with creating an idea and getting it off the ground. “A successful inventor comes from the inside out,” he says as he explains that oftentimes the first step is the hardest but you must keep going to achieve greatness. Wilson also mentions how having a team of people who loved his product and were supportive of his innovation was crucial for BetterBlocks® to be the first competitor against Lego®. The Patent Professor® and Wilson end this conversation by emphasizing that knowledge is helpful, but action is imperative. Wilson’s persistence and curiosity allowed him to be one of the most successful toy inventors in the market. He reflects on this as he talks about how BetterBlocks® allowed him to touch the lives of his customers and how this by far is his greatest accomplishment.
5 – Marketing & Public Relations Tips and Strategies for Inventors from CastMedic Inventor – Christina Daves
Christina Daves, inventor of CastMedic, shares her journey to success as an inventor. After injuring her foot and being subjected to wearing an ugly medical boot, Christina frantically searched the web for medical boot fashion pieces. When she was unable to find any, Christina knew she had to invent some. With previous entrepreneurship experience, including owning a retail store, Christina thought that starting her medical boots accessories company would come naturally, but it didn’t. As with most inventors, Christina needed money and exposure. Christina tells us how she dealt with setback after setback but still managed to get free publicity and marketing to promote CastMedic.
4 – The Lucrative Inventor Power Couple – Mary Lou & Dennis Green
The journey to success for an inventor is never easy but perseverance and believing in yourself can get through the rollercoaster ride. Mary Lou and Dennis Green are creative entrepreneurs who began developing useful products in the 1970s and invented the notable Sneaker Balls. Mary Lou and Dennis have been married and innovating for over 40 years together. Aside from their booming inventions, they have also written many books including the #1 Amazon bestseller, SHARK PITCH: How to Sell Anything to Anyone Even if You Hate Selling. On this week’s episode of The Patent Professor® Podcast Series, we get to explore how Mary Lou and Dennis Green’s shared curiosity has led them to fall in love and create over 50 inventions that have produced over 120 million dollars in revenue.
3 – Making selfies more accessible with Wayne Fromm, Inventor of the Selfie Stick
Often times one of the biggest dilemmas faced by inventors is ensuring that their idea is something useful that hasn’t been thought of or created before. When Wayne Fromm invented the QuickPod™, thankfully it was the first iteration of the “Selfie Stick.” Still, Fromm had to consider prior art that already existed related to his product. Fromm also faced problems with releasing this product and trying to get his audience to understand its functionality. Fromm’s invention has had a revenue of over a billion dollars in sales as it came into the market before selfies were popular. For this episode of the The Patent Professor® Podcast Series, we get an inside look of what led to Fromm’s genius invention and how he was able to create something that was different from the rest.
2 – The Grandfather of Possibilities & Inventor of the Credit Card Magnetic Strip – Ron Klein
Many believe that in order to be capable of innovation, one must be an inventor by default. Ron Klein challenges this as he talks about what led him to create a simple solution to a complex problem. In the 1960s, Klein was sought out by a major department store to solve a tedious problem. When a customer went to purchase a product with their credit card, clerks would have to search through lengthy lists provided by credit card companies in order to complete transactions. Klein mimicked the mechanism of a tape recorder to create the magnetic strip that would hold all the necessary card information to complete a purchase. In this episode, John Rizvi – The Patent Professor® sits down with Ron Klein to discuss the big impact of tiny inventions and how these led to Klein’s mega success!
1 – Inventor of the Infomercial & the Original Shark on Shark Tank – Kevin Harrington
One myth about successful entrepreneurs is that they must have had an easy path to acquire success. That is furthest from the truth. Every successful entrepreneur has a launching pad. Harrington’s launching pad started when he worked at his dad’s bar as a dishwasher and server. Even though he didn’t see himself in the restaurant industry, he became exposed to the idea of starting his own business at the age of 11, working 40 hours a week. This experience led him to his first entrepreneurial endeavor at 15 years old, sealing driveways. In this episode, Kevin Harrington and John Rizvi – The Patent Professor® talks about his journey in launching 500 products that generated billions in sales, why it’s important to have a mentor, his invention of the infomercial, and much more!
