Inventions.

If you ever go to the patent office in Washington D.C. you will see examples of inventions on display, that at best, are rudimentary; these early inventions set the stage for many other inventions and for future adaptations.

I have to believe over time we have all thought of ideas we believe can make it big; it might be something as simple as beanie babies, silly bands, or pet rocks (all are registered in the patent office)---or an invention that saves time, lives, and/or our environment.

On our street is the home where a member of the Otis family lived; they are one of the biggest names in elevators---yet the home does not have one in it. Go figure.

An invention has to fill a need and have to be unique enough to not copy one that’s out in the marketplace---it’s fulfilling the need that really brings it to market. For example, we have an inventor in “Our Town” named Greg Dempsey. Greg has actually invented a few items, written at least one book, and has worked hard to bring something to market that is not only smart, and fills a need---but can be lifesaving.

Greg’s invention is named, “Goal Secure.” For any of you who have kids in soccer, you may have seen there is a natural attraction for kids to hang on top of the goal while they are bored during a game or just goofing around. We’ve all done it, and if we haven’t, we can probably visualize it.

It seems harmless until the goal topples over and someone is either killed or hurt very badly by the force and weight of the goal falling on them. It happens more than you think---in fact, it happened recently in Arkansas, but there are many stories of it occurring very close to “Our Town.” (I cannot imagine the pain parents go through when this happens and why parks and towns don’t have a better device to keep the goals grounded.)

Check this out…

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/05/earlyshow/living/parenting/main6928212.shtml (cut and paste.)

Greg developed the idea when a boyhood friend of his had it happen to him---he nearly died and it left an impression Greg could not shake until he had the answer.

He finally came up with a system that would let anyone in or around the field know the goal is not affixed properly to the ground---his early version has gone through several adaptations…just like many inventions. (The photo above demonstrates how it wraps around the base of the goal.)

As a parent with two girls in soccer, I now check for goal security before the game starts---often times I know the answer even before I approach the goal. You can see it has been moved due to the indentations in the ground or where the grass is flat because of the weight it had prior to being moved. Not a good thing once you know what can happen—and something none of us ever want to experience.

Having inventors in Our Town is something to talk about to friends, neighbors and family; however letting them know of the dangers of something so common in our everyday lives as soccer, is a much more important story to tell.

Thanks for stopping by.